tenrec

Everyday

A small mammal from Madagascar that often looks like a hedgehog or a shrew; some kinds have spines. tree →

In the lessons

In science and nature lessons tenrecs are an example of convergent evolution: they look like hedgehogs but are not closely related; they evolved spines separately on the island of Madagascar. Some tenrecs rattle their quills to talk to each other, and some have many babies at once. They come up in lessons on islands, adaptation and unusual animals.

Examples

• The tenrec looks like a tiny hedgehog. tree →
• Tenrecs live only in Madagascar and a little of Africa. tree →
• The streaked tenrec rattles its spines to talk. tree →
• A tenrec is not a hedgehog, even though it looks like one. tree →
• Some tenrecs swim in streams like little otters. tree →
• The zoo has a lowland tenrec in the night house. tree →

Note

Countable: a tenrec, tenrecs. Pronounced TEN-rek. Not a hedgehog or porcupine; it belongs to a group of African mammals. Not to be mixed up with "tenner" (UK slang for ten pounds).