Mary Allen
Even if they look like the miniature form of our hedgehogs at first glance: the hedgehog tanrecs are not related to them but belong to a different animal family.
Characteristics
What do Small Hedgehog Tankards look like?
Hedgehog tanrecs look like very small, slender European hedgehogs: They measure a maximum of 18 centimeters from the tip of the snout to the buttocks and weigh between 110 and 230 grams, with an average of 140 grams.
Its body is cylindrical, its legs short and strong. The head with the pointed snout and the short whiskers sits on a squat neck.
The eyes are small, the round ears are close to the head. The tail is short and stubby From head to bottom, their back is covered with a thin coat of long, whitish to gray spines. Face, belly and legs wear short, light gray to white fur
Where do little hedgehog tanrecs live?
Like all other tanrec species, the small hedgehog tanrec occurs exclusively on the island of Madagascar, east of Africa. There he lives mainly in the south and south-west of the island. The small hedgehog tank stays mainly in dry bushland. There is not only live on the ground but also climb on bushes and trees to search for food.
Which (small) hedgehog cards are there?
The little hedgehog tanrecs are not related to our hedgehogs. They used to belong to the order of insectivores. In the meantime, however, molecular genetic studies have shown that tanrecs form a group of their own. They belong to the order of the tenrec-like and there to the family of the tanrecs.
There are four superfamilies, ten genera, and more than 30 different species. Examples include the hedgehog tanrec, the large tanrec, and the striped tanrec.
How old do little hedgehog tanrecs get?
Small hedgehog tanrecs get quite old: in captivity, they can reach an age of 13 years, in extreme cases up to 17 years. On average, however, they only live for six to nine years.
Behave
How do little hedgehog tanrecs live?
Small hedgehog tanrecs are nocturnal. They spend the day asleep in their hiding places, where they often lie in groups of several, curled up in a ball. They only wake up at dusk and start looking for food. They usually stay on the ground.
They also climb bushes or low trees, where they plunder bird nests.
In case of danger, the hedgehog tenrecs first try to flee. If this is not possible, they roll up into a ball and are then well protected from attacks by their spiked clothing.
The weight of the animals can vary greatly and ranges from 110 to 230 grams, depending on the animal’s nutritional status. Hedgehog tanrecs have a relatively low body temperature of between 24 and 28°C. To increase them, they need to sunbathe now and then.
In the cooler season in southern winter, when the temperatures only reach 17 to 19 °C, there is little rain and there is also little food, the hedgehog tanrecs hibernate for two to three months. They spend this time in a nest in-branch cavities or in the ground.
Friends and foes of the little hedgehog tanrec
When attacked by predators and unable to flee, hedgehog tanrecs emit wheezing and puffing sounds. They also erect their forehead spikes and try to use them to poke and fend off the attacker. If that doesn’t help, they curl up into a ball and are protected by their spines. One of the main enemies of the small hedgehog tanrecs is humans: some of them are caught and eaten.
How do small hedgehog tanrecs reproduce?
During the mating season, the males produce a whitish secretion that emerges from the skin of the eyes. What this is used for is not known.
Mating can last over an hour. The female usually squeaks and the male makes wheezing noises. The mating is repeated several times. After the mating season, males and females separate again. The pregnant females build a nest in which they give birth to two to ten young after a gestation period of 60 to 65 days.
The newborns are still blind and naked. They only weigh five to ten grams when they are born. After a few days, they grow fur and spines. Around the ninth day, they open their eyes. Two weeks after birth, they crawl out of the nest for the first time.
At first, they are only suckled by their mother. At about three weeks, they begin to eat solid food. At the age of five weeks, they stop feeding their mother. After the first hibernation, they finally become sexually mature. They can breed up to about seven years of age.
Care
What do little hedgehog tanrecs eat?
The little hedgehog tanks have a varied diet: They feed mainly on insects, spiders, worms, and bird eggs, sometimes on young mice. From time to time they also eat plants and fruits.