Greater Hedgehog Tenrec Setifer setosus

Greater Hedgehog Tenrec
Greater Hedgehog Tenrec
Surprising as it may seem, the animal above is not a hedgehog and is not even closely related to hedgehogs. Tenrecs are endemic to the island of Madagascar and come in several diverse forms through convergent evolution to resemble shrews, hedgehogs, possums, mice and nothing on earth (in the case of the Yellow Streaked). They include terrestrial, arboreal and aquatic habitats.
Greater Hedgehog Tenrec
Greater Hedgehog Tenrec
Greater Hedgehog Tenrec
The Greater Hedgehog Tenrec is the only species in the Setifer genus; its relative, the similar-looking Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec, is the only species in the Echinops genus. The resemblance to the true hedgehog family is remarkable, with pointed snout, stuck-out ears and white-tipped brown spikes from crown to rump. The feet are different and they climb trees well.