Head to head
Common Tenrec vs Greater Hedgehog Tenrec
The common tenrec and the greater hedgehog tenrec both belong to Madagascar's remarkable tenrec family, but they have taken very different evolutionary paths: one grew into the largest tenrec species with record-breaking litters, the other evolved a spiny, hedgehog-like body for defence.
| Common Tenrec | Greater Hedgehog Tenrec | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Tenrec ecaudatus | Setifer setosus |
| Size | The largest living tenrec | Smaller than the common tenrec |
| Body covering | Mostly soft fur, no defensive spines | Covered in sharp, defensive spines |
| Primary defence | Not a spiny defence | Rolls into a tight, spine-covered ball |
| Typical litter size | Can exceed two dozen young | Not a defining trait |
| Diet | Omnivore, worms, insects, small vertebrates, some plants | Insectivore, insects and earthworms |
| Seasonal dormancy | Enters torpor during the dry season | Not a defining trait |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Tenrec vs Greater Hedgehog Tenrec: common questions
Which tenrec has spines, the common tenrec or the greater hedgehog tenrec?
The greater hedgehog tenrec, which is covered in sharp defensive spines and rolls into a ball when threatened, much like a true hedgehog; the common tenrec instead has mostly soft fur without this spiny defence.
Which tenrec has bigger litters, the common tenrec or the greater hedgehog tenrec?
The common tenrec, which can give birth to more than two dozen young in a single litter, one of the largest litter sizes recorded for any mammal, far exceeding anything reported for the greater hedgehog tenrec.
Does either tenrec hibernate?
The common tenrec enters a period of torpor during Madagascar's dry season to conserve energy when food becomes scarce, a behaviour not specifically noted as a defining trait of the greater hedgehog tenrec.