Origins & Evolution

The Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairi) is a small mammal native to Madagascar that has fascinated scientists and pet owners alike. At first glance, it looks like a miniature hedgehog, but this resemblance is an evolutionary illusion. Despite having spines, a pointed snout, and a defensive curling posture, the Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec is not related to hedgehogs at all. Instead, it belongs to a unique group of mammals called Afrotherians, sharing ancestry with animals such as elephants, golden moles, and even sea cows.

In this lesson, we explore the origins, natural environment, and evolutionary background of the Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec. We’ll also explain how convergent evolution has shaped its appearance and lifestyle, and how it is related to other tenrecs and to the otter shrews of mainland Africa.

Origins in the Wild

The Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec is endemic to Madagascar, meaning it is found nowhere else in the wild. Madagascar itself split from the African mainland around 88 million years ago, creating a unique evolutionary laboratory. This long isolation allowed plants and animals on the island to evolve in remarkable ways, resulting in species found nowhere else.

Within Madagascar, Lesser Hedgehog Tenrecs are most common in dry deciduous forests and scrublands in the western and southern parts of the island. They are especially well adapted to seasonal environments, where dry and wet seasons influence their activity patterns.

Key environmental features of their native habitat include:

• Dry season dormancy: During the cool and dry months (typically May to September), Lesser Hedgehog Tenrecs enter a form of torpor or hibernation to conserve energy.
• Variable food supply: Insects and other invertebrates are abundant in the wet season but scarce in the dry months, shaping their feeding and breeding patterns.
• Shelter needs: In the wild, they make use of tree hollows, rock crevices, and burrows for daytime resting and for protection during dormancy.

Climate & Environmental Adaptations

The climate in their native range is tropical dry forest climate, characterized by:

• Temperature: Warm year-round, with average daytime temperatures between 20°C and 30°C (68–86°F).
• Rainfall: Distinct wet and dry seasons; rainfall is concentrated between November and April.
• Humidity: Moderately high during the wet season, dropping significantly in the dry season.

Adaptations to this climate:

• Energy storage: They accumulate fat reserves before the dry season to sustain themselves during periods of inactivity.
• Seasonal breeding: Breeding typically occurs during the wet season when food is abundant, ensuring mothers can support their young.
• Spines for protection: Their spiny coat deters many predators, an advantage in an environment where birds of prey, snakes, and carnivorous mammals hunt small animals.

Evolutionary Background

The Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec belongs to:

• Order: Afrosoricida
• Family: Tenrecidae
• Genus: Echinops
• Species: Echinops telfairi

The order Afrosoricida includes tenrecs and golden moles, all part of the larger Afrotheria group. This means that, on the evolutionary tree, Lesser Hedgehog Tenrecs are more closely related to elephants and aardvarks than to true hedgehogs.

Convergent Evolution with Hedgehogs

Convergent evolution occurs when unrelated species develop similar traits because they live in similar environments or face similar survival challenges. The spines, insectivorous diet, and defensive curling posture of Lesser Hedgehog Tenrecs are strikingly similar to those of true hedgehogs (Erinaceidae family), yet these traits evolved independently.

The similarity is functional, not genetic:

• Hedgehogs: Found in Europe, Asia, and Africa; belong to the order Eulipotyphla.
• Lesser Hedgehog Tenrecs: Found only in Madagascar; belong to the order Afrosoricida.

Both animals faced pressures from predators and adapted with a spiny coat and a curl-up defense, but their evolutionary paths diverged tens of millions of years ago.

Relationship to Other Tenrecs

The family Tenrecidae is highly diverse, with over 30 species adapted to different habitats in Madagascar. They vary in appearance, lifestyle, and ecological niche, from aquatic tenrecs that swim in rivers to shrew-like species that forage in leaf litter.

The Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec is part of the subfamily Tenrecinae, which includes the more spiny and hedgehog-like members of the family. Within this subfamily, it is most closely related to:

• The Greater Hedgehog Tenrec (Setifer setosus), which is larger and less common.
• The Common Tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus), which lacks spines and is much larger.

Link to Otter Shrews

Interestingly, the closest living relatives of tenrecs outside Madagascar are otter shrews (Potamogalidae family) found in mainland Africa. These are semi-aquatic mammals that, despite their name, are not related to true shrews. The connection between tenrecs and otter shrews reflects an ancient evolutionary split before Madagascar separated from Africa.

Why This Evolutionary Story Matters

Understanding the origins and evolution of the Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec is important for conservation and captive care because:

• It helps us understand their natural seasonal rhythms, which should be respected in captivity.
• It explains why they need different diets and environmental conditions than true hedgehogs.
• It highlights the unique biodiversity of Madagascar and the importance of preserving its habitats.

Summary

The Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec is a product of millions of years of isolated evolution on Madagascar. Its spiny body and hedgehog-like defenses are a remarkable example of convergent evolution. Closely related to other tenrecs and otter shrews, but distantly related to hedgehogs, it thrives in the island’s dry forests and seasonal climate, a lifestyle that shapes its behavior, breeding, and care requirements in captivity.

Sources

Eisenberg, J.F., & Gould, E. (1970). The tenrecs: A study in mammalian behavior and evolution. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, (27), 1–138.

Olson, L.E., & Goodman, S.M. (2003). Phylogeny and biogeography of tenrecs. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 27(3), 372–389.

Nowak, R.M. (1999). Walker’s Mammals of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press.

Garland, T., & Adolph, S.C. (1994). Why not to do two-species comparative studies: limitations on inferring adaptation. Physiological Zoology, 67(4), 797–828.

Goodman, S.M. (2012). Les Tenrecs de Madagascar. Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris.