Posted by While we usually bring you hard-hitting, fact-based (like pleather is leather-based) news, sometimes we stumble across something that is simply news to us. In this case, it’s the existence of what appears to be a cross between a colorful sea slug and a shrew called a Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus).
Since these pictures in and of themselves aren’t much of a post, please gather round the campfire for a bit more info on tenrecs. As any self-respecting pretend biologist can tell you, tenrecs are a distinct family of mammals that spent the last few million years evolving into a variety of different species while isolated in Madagascar (yes yes, there are some in Southern Africa too. We choose to selectively ignore them). They are remarkably diverse, although they kind of look like the home-schooled equivalents of the animals that fill their niches on more cosmopolitan land masses. There are hedgehog-like tenrecs. Porcupiney tenrecs. Shrewy tenrecs. Possumy tenrecs. Even otter-like tenrecs. Here are a few.
Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec
Dobson’s Shrew Tenrec
Giant Otter Shrew (tenrec) – big money to whomever can deliver me a half-decent shot of this guy
Thus ends tenrec 101. Please present your term papers (11pt, Arial) finishing the following statement by the end of next week:
“A tenrec in my pants would make me feel…”
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