What is the difference between a tenrec and a hedgehog?
Tenrecs have a long, narrow snout that almost looks rat-like. If it weren’t for the quills and barely visible tail, one might mistake tenrecs for a rat at a distance. Pet hedgehogs have skinny legs like a tenrec. However, they have four toes on the front paws and five toes on the back paws.
Is a tenrec a type of hedgehog?
Many people confuse lesser tenrecs with a species of African hedgehog found in pet stores but these are not the same animals; hedgehogs are members of a different order.
Can you keep a tenrec as a pet?
Tenrecs are not overly friendly pets. They don’t necessarily mind being handled, but they don’t crave human attention like many more-aptly-called pets do. If they’re handled gently and regularly as pups, they’re more likely to respond well to human interaction.
What is a tenrec?
A tenrec is any species of mammal within the afrotherian family Tenrecidae endemic to Madagascar. Tenrecs are widely diverse; as a result of convergent evolution some resemble hedgehogs, shrews, opossums, rats, or mice. They occupy aquatic, arboreal, terrestrial and fossorial environments.
Are tenrec related to hedgehogs?
Found in Madagascar and parts of the African mainland, tenrecs closely resemble hedgehogs but, in fact, they’re unrelated. Dave White, team manager here at the zoo, explains: Although our new arrivals might look very similar in appearance to hedgehogs, they’re actually not related.
Should I get a hedgehog or a tenrec?
The hedgehog is plumper and rounder than the tenrec and while it has five toes on each back foot, it only has four toes on its front feet. Their toes are shorter and fatter which means that they are not as adept at climbing. Hedgehogs can and do still climb, but only when necessary.
What’s the difference between a hedgehog and a tenrec?
Tenrecs have a long, narrow snout that almost looks rat-like. If it weren’t for the quills and barely visible tail, one might mistake tenrecs for a rat at a distance. Pet hedgehogs have skinny legs like a tenrec. However, they have four toes on the front paws and five toes on the back paws.
What type of animal is a tenrec?
tenrec, (family Tenrecidae), any of 29 species of shrewlike and hedgehoglike mammals. Most are endemic to Madagascar and nearby islands, but the otter shrews (subfamily Potamogalinae) are native to the African mainland.
How do you keep a tenrec?
To make tenrecs happy, Storm says they need a large cage, something to climb on, a wheel, a place to hide and plenty of fresh food and water. Some appear to even enjoy being snuggled. These little creatures have been so very interesting to watch and compare with what little is written about them, Storm explains.
Do tenrecs bite?
The hedgehog is plumper and rounder than the tenrec and while it has five toes on each back foot, it only has four toes on its front feet. Their toes are shorter and fatter which means that they are not as adept at climbing. Hedgehogs can and do still climb, but only when necessary.
What cage does a tenrec need?
This is how it defends itself against anything it perceives as a threat and will retain that posture for as long as they feel threatened. On the other hand, when tenrecs feel threatened, they are more likely to bite than to ball up. Most pet tenrecs have been well socialized, so this may not be a concern.
What does a tenrec do?
Tenrecs have a long, narrow snout that almost looks rat-like. If it weren’t for the quills and barely visible tail, one might mistake tenrecs for a rat at a distance. Pet hedgehogs have skinny legs like a tenrec. However, they have four toes on the front paws and five toes on the back paws.
What kind of animal is a tenrec?
When threatened, they have the ability to roll up completely into a ball, tucking their head and limbs toward their belly. If a tenrec decides to attack, it does so with its the spines erect, head lowered, and brow spines up and pointed forward, in an attempt to stab the spines into their opponent’s body.
Is a tenrec a hedgehog?
tenrec, (family Tenrecidae), any of 29 species of shrewlike and hedgehoglike mammals. Most are endemic to Madagascar and nearby islands, but the otter shrews (subfamily Potamogalinae) are native to the African mainland.
What’s the difference between a tenrec and a hedgehog?
Tenrecs have a long, narrow snout that almost looks rat-like. If it weren’t for the quills and barely visible tail, one might mistake tenrecs for a rat at a distance. Pet hedgehogs have skinny legs like a tenrec. However, they have four toes on the front paws and five toes on the back paws.
What is a tenrec related to?
Tenrecs are probably most closely related to golden moles (CHRYSOCHLORIDAE). Along with golden moles, scientists now consider tenrecs part of the Afrotheria, a grouping of African mammals with evolutionary connections that also contains the aardvark, sengis (or elephant-shrews), hyraxes, elephants and sea cows.
What is the closest relative to a hedgehog?
The hedgehog’s closest relatives are moonrats, shrews, and moles. People often confuse porcupines and hedgehogs because the two share a common characteristic: quills! The hedgehog’s best defense against predators is its spiky outer armor.
Is a tenrec similar to a hedgehog?
Found in Madagascar and parts of the African mainland, tenrecs closely resemble hedgehogs but, in fact, they’re unrelated. Dave White, team manager here at the zoo, explains: Although our new arrivals might look very similar in appearance to hedgehogs, they’re actually not related.
Is a tenrec a good pet?
Tenrecs are not overly friendly pets. They don’t necessarily mind being handled, but they don’t crave human attention like many more-aptly-called pets do. If they’re handled gently and regularly as pups, they’re more likely to respond well to human interaction.
Is owning a hedgehog worth it?
Hedgehogs can be a fun and low-maintenance pet for your household, but they do need some special care. They have sharp quills that can make handling difficult. Consistent and proper daily handling will help them relax and feel comfortable with you.
Is a lesser tenrec a hedgehog?
Many people confuse lesser tenrecs with a species of African hedgehog found in pet stores but these are not the same animals; hedgehogs are members of a different order.
Is a tenrec a herbivore?
A tenrec is any species of mammal within the afrotherian family Tenrecidae endemic to Madagascar. Tenrecs are widely diverse; as a result of convergent evolution some resemble hedgehogs, shrews, opossums, rats, or mice. They occupy aquatic, arboreal, terrestrial and fossorial environments.
Is a tenrec a carnivore?
The lesser hedgehog tenrec is classified as an insectivore, but is actually an omnivore. In addition to eating insects and their larvae on the ground or in trees, it can also prey upon small vertebrates and bird eggs and it occasionally consumes fruit.
What should I feed my tenrec?
Tenrecs are not overly friendly pets. They don’t necessarily mind being handled, but they don’t crave human attention like many more-aptly-called pets do. If they’re handled gently and regularly as pups, they’re more likely to respond well to human interaction.
How long does a tenrec live?
They are relatively good climbers and will use some vertical space but set up the environment so that an animal will not hurt itself if it falls. A good minimum enclosure size is 1.5u2032 x 2.5u2032 but plan on outside of enclosure exercise time if housing in minimum sized enclosures.
