Head to head
Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec vs Common Tenrec
The lesser hedgehog tenrec and common tenrec sit at opposite ends of the tenrec size range, one a small, spiny, hedgehog-like species, the other the largest living tenrec, known for producing some of the largest litters of any mammal.
| Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec | Common Tenrec | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Echinops telfairi | Tenrec ecaudatus |
| Size | The smallest of the spiny tenrecs | The largest living tenrec |
| Body covering | A spiny, hedgehog-like coat | Coarse fur with some spines, less uniformly spiny |
| Litter size | Not documented as unusually large | Can exceed two dozen young in a single litter |
| Dormancy | Can enter torpor during the dry season | Hibernates through the dry season |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
| Native range | Dry forest in Madagascar | Forest and grassland across much of Madagascar |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec vs Common Tenrec: common questions
Which is bigger, the lesser hedgehog tenrec or the common tenrec?
The common tenrec, by a wide margin; it is the largest living tenrec species, while the lesser hedgehog tenrec is the smallest of the spiny tenrecs.
Do both the lesser hedgehog tenrec and common tenrec have spines?
The lesser hedgehog tenrec has a dense, uniformly spiny, hedgehog-like coat, while the common tenrec instead has coarser fur combined with some spines, a less uniformly spiny appearance overall.
Which tenrec has larger litters, the lesser hedgehog tenrec or the common tenrec?
The common tenrec, which can give birth to more than two dozen young in a single litter, among the largest litter sizes recorded for any mammal, far exceeding anything documented for the lesser hedgehog tenrec.