Echinops telfairi

Echinops telfairi (Information about this image)

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Magnordo: Epitheria
Superordo: Afrotheria
Cladus: Afroinsectiphilia
Cladus: Afroinsectivora
Ordo: Afrosoricida
Subordo: Tenrecomorpha

Familia: Tenrecidae
Subfamilia: Tenrecinae
Genus: Echinops
Species: Echinops telfairi
Name

Echinops telfairi Martin, 1838: 17

Type locality: Madagascar

Eponymy: William Telfair [Martin, 1838: 17]
References
Primary references

Martin, W. 1838. On a New Genus of Insectivorous Mammalia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 6: 17–19. BHL Reference page.

Links

Echinops telfairi in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
Echinops telfairi Martin, 1838 – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
IUCN: Echinops telfairi Martin, 1838 (Least Concern)

Vernacular names
català: Tenrec espinós petit
čeština: Bodlín Telfairův
Deutsch: Kleiner Igeltenrek
Ελληνικά: Μικρή Ανγκαθώδης Μυγαλή
English: Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec
español: Tenrec erizo menor
français: Petit Tenrec-hérisson
日本語: ヒメハリテンレック
polski: Tenrek mniejszy

The lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi) is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is the only species in the genus Echinops and is named in honour of Charles Telfair.[1] It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, shrubland, and shrubland and dry savanna.[2]
Description

The lesser hedgehog tenrec is a small, stout-bodied animal visually similar to a hedgehog, hence the name. Their tails are short, their limbs and muzzles are of moderate length, and their ears are prominent. The entire dorsum is covered with sharp spines. Color is usually yellow buff; individuals range from near white to almost black. Head and body length is 5 to 6.8 inches (13 to 17 cm). Weight is about 7 ounces (0.2 kg).

Lesser hedgehog tenrecs (like all tenrecs) have a cloaca (common urogenital opening), like a bird or a reptile.[3]
Behavior

This tenrec is terrestrial.[2] It spends its daytime hours resting under a log, a pile of branches, leaves, straws or in a hollow tree, although trees are widely scattered in its native habitat. In hot weather, it sleeps with its body extended, but otherwise lies in a curled position to rest. It enters a state of torpor in the winter time.[3]

They mostly feed upon insects but may prey on small vertebrates, and usually forage alone, except for a mother with her young.[3]

Breeding is known to occur in October but may depend on warm weather first arousing the animals from winter torpor and on an available food supply.

The lesser hedgehog tenrec is a host of the Acanthocephalan intestinal parasite Promoniliformis ovocristatus.[4]
Captivity

The lesser hedgehog tenrec has become popular in the exotic pet industry.[citation needed]
References

Simon and Schuster's Guide to Mammals

Bronner, G.N.; Jenkins, P.D. (2005). "Order Afrosoricida". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Stephenson, P.J.; Soarimalala, V.; Goodman, S. (2016). "Echinops telfairi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T40592A97188634. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T40592A97188634.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
"Tenrecs in Madagascar". afrotheria.net. IUCN Afrotheria Specialist Group.

Dollfus, Robert-Ph.; Golvan, Yves-J. (1963). "Sur un singulier Métacanthocéphale parasite d'insectivores (Tenrecinae) de Madagascar et des Comores" (PDF). Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparée. 38 (5): 793–806. doi:10.1051/parasite/1963385793. Retrieved February 9, 2020.