One of Madagascar’s strangest little mammals—and it’s not actually all that little. It’s the largest of the tenrecs and can be about the size of a small house cat, which surprises people who expect something mouse-sized. At first glance, it looks a bit like a mix between a giant hedgehog and a chunky rat: short legs, a sturdy body, a long snout, and a coat covered in stiff spines mixed with coarse fur.
As its name says, it has no visible tail; the back end is rounded and stubby. Its colors are usually a blend of browns, yellows, and blacks, which help it blend into leaf litter and undergrowth. The face is pointed with beady eyes and small ears, giving it a slightly scruffy, “old-man” expression that’s oddly charming.
This animal is a master of night life. The tailless tenrec is mostly active after dark, snuffling around the forest floor for anything edible. It is an omnivore with simple tastes and a big appetite: worms, insects, snails, small frogs, fruit, and even carrion can all end up on the menu. It uses its long, flexible nose to probe into soil, leaf piles, rotten logs, and crevices, listening and smelling for tiny movements. Its teeth are sharp and many, and it can crunch tough insect shells with ease.
When threatened, it can curl up slightly and raise its spines, making itself harder to grab, though it doesn’t form a tight ball like a hedgehog. If really annoyed, it may hiss, grunt, or click its teeth, and it can deliver a surprisingly painful bite for its size.
Distribution
Comoros
Madagascar
Mauritius
Réunion
SeychellesAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
