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Home -> Kingdom Animalia -> Phylum Chordata -> Subphylum Vertebrata -> Class Mammalia -> Order Afrosoricida -> Suborder Tenrecomorpha -> Family Tenrecidae -> Subfamily Tenrecinae -> Species Hemicentetes semispinosus

Hemicentetes semispinosus
streaked tenrec



2008/07/20 04:33:16.648 GMT-4

By Nancy Shefferly

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Afrosoricida
Suborder: Tenrecomorpha
Family: Tenrecidae
Subfamily: Tenrecinae
Genus: Hemicentetes
Species: Hemicentetes semispinosus

Geographic Range

The streaked tenrec occurs on Madagascar only.

Biogeographic Regions:
ethiopian (native ).

Habitat

The streaked tenrec inhabits rain forests and brushland habitats. Single animals construct a burrow containing a nesting chanber which is accessible through a 200-500mm tunnel. Groups of animals may construct much more elaborate burrow systems, with several meters of tunnels.

Terrestrial Biomes:
rainforest ; scrub forest .

Physical Description

Mass
180 g (average)
(6.34 oz)
[External Source: AnAge]


Basal Metabolic Rate


The head and body length of H. semispinosus is 160 to 190 mm with the vestigial tail adding to their length. The pelage is spiny and sharply pointed. The ground color is black, but the two subspecies differ in markings. Hemicentetes semispinosus nigriceps has distinct whitish markings, whereas H. s. semispinosus has chestnut markings. The markings, which are more distinct in H. s. semispinosus, consist of a number of longitusinal stripes on the sides and on the back. The two subspecies also differ in the color and testure of hairs covering the belly. In H.s. semispinous, the hairs on the underside are very spiny, and chestnut brown in color. Hemicentetes spinosus nigriceps, however, has soft whitish or bugffy hairs on its underside.

Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .

Reproduction

Gestation period
59 days (average)
[External Source: AnAge]


Birth Mass
11.50 g (average)
(0.4 oz)
[External Source: AnAge]


Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
35 days (average)
[External Source: AnAge]


Mating season for these animals runs from September through December. Young are born in March after a gestation of 55-63 days. The two subspecies differ dramatically in litter size. Hemicentetes s. nigriceps litters range from 2-4 young, wheras H. s. semispinosus litters can be as large as 11 young. Females reach reproductive maturity very quickly, sometimes breeding when they are only 5 weeks old.

Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .

Behavior

The social grouping of H. semispinosus seems variable. Typical groups contain one or two adult animals and several young, but groups with as many as 4 adults have been reported. Male and females maintain lengthy associations. The streaked tenrec is a fairly vocal animal. Among the sounds audible to humans are a noisy "crunch" and a "putt- putt" sound which occur during agonistic encounters. Mothers and their dependent offspring communicate locate one another by vibrating specialized quills on their middorsal region. This process, which produces a sound, is known as stridulation.

Key behaviors:
motile .

Food Habits

The diet of H. semispinosus consists primarily of earthworms, which it obtains by inserting its relatively long and slender snout into the roots of grasses or under leaves.

Contributors

Nancy Shefferly (author), Animal Diversity Web Staff.

References

Nowak, Ronald M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World, Fifth edition. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.

2008/07/20 04:33:19.237 GMT-4

To cite this page: Shefferly, N. 1999. "Hemicentetes semispinosus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed July 24, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Hemicentetes_semispinosus.html.

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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