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What the sources say

Lowland Streaked TenrecHemicentetes semispinosus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Lowland Streaked Tenrec profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 41 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Endo et al. 2010

Endo et al. (2010). A Quill Vibrating Mechanism for a Sounding Apparatus in the Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus). Zoological Science.

The page saysA study confirmed thickened skin muscle beneath those quills.
The source saysThickened cutaneous muscles were confirmed beneath quills
The page saysIts cells contain mainly fast myosin, and the findings indicate that it contributes to the vibration of the quills and to the sound they make.
The source saysMyocytes were found immunohistochemically to contain mainly fast myosin but not slow myosin. These findings indicate that the QVD is a specialized apparatus in the cutaneous muscle that contributes to the vibration of quills and to the production of sound for communication
The page saysA study of the sound organ on the back found an arrangement of 15 or 16 light-brown quills
The source saysAn arrangement of 15 or 16 light-brown quills was observed.
The page sayswith thickened skin muscle beneath them
The source saysThickened cutaneous muscles were confirmed beneath quills
The page saysThe researchers named the structure the quill vibrator disc
The source saysWe named this structure the "quill vibrator disc" (QVD).
The page saysin a typical adult it measured 16.8 mm long and 8.55 mm wide
The source saysThe QVD was 16.8 mm long and 8.55 mm wide in a typical adult.

Source
02

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Hemicentetes semispinosus (streaked tenrec). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysA black-and-yellow striped Madagascan tenrec, roughly 125 to 280 g, with back quills that rub together to make high-frequency sound.
The source sayslowland streaked tenrecs, whose body weight ranges from 125 to 280 g
The page saysRainforests on the east side of Madagascar
The source saysare found in the rainforests on the east side of the island
The page saysAlmost exclusively worms, with some other invertebrates
The source saysalmost exclusively vermivorous (worm-eating), but other available invertebrates may also be eaten
The page saysA stridulation organ of 7 to 16 specialized quills on its back that make high-frequency sound when rubbed together.
The source saysA stridulation organ consisting of 7 to 16 specialized spines is found in both species
The page sayswears black and yellow quills, with four yellow stripes: one down the snout and three along the body
The source sayshave black and yellow quills covering their bodies and have four primary longitudinal yellow stripes. One of these yellow stripes is found down the median of the rostrum and the other three are found on the body
The page saysA group of 7 to 16 of them on the back is a stridulation organ.
The source saysA stridulation organ consisting of 7 to 16 specialized spines
The page saysWhen the quill tips rub together, they make high-frequency sounds that scientists think let tenrecs in a foraging group talk to each other.
The source saysWhen the tips of these spines are rubbed together rapidly they produce high-frequency sounds that are thought to allow communication between members of foraging groups
The page saysWhen disturbed, these tenrecs erect the spines on the head and move the head up and down over and over, which is how one can impale a possible enemy or predator.
The source saysThese tenrecs erect spines on the head while moving the head up and down repetitively if the animal is disturbed. This is how an animal can impale a potential enemy or predator with quills.
The page saysStamping of the forefeet and rushing at the disturbance may follow.
The source saysIf a disturbance continues, stamping of the forefeet may occur as well as rushing at the disturbance
The page saysStreaked tenrecs of both species average 140 mm long and have no tail.
The source saysA tail is absent in both species, and body lengths average 140 mm
The page saysThe lowland species weighs 125 to 280 g
The source sayslowland streaked tenrecs, whose body weight ranges from 125 to 280 g
The page saysThe species lives in the rainforests on the east side of Madagascar, and it is found only on Madagascar.
The source saysboth are found only on Madagascar. Lowland streaked tenrecs (H. semispinosus) are found in the rainforests on the east side of the island
The page saysIn captivity, Animal Diversity Web reports up to 30 months.
The source sayslive as long as 30 months in captivity
The page saysHow long one lives in the wild is unknown.
The source saysHow long either species lives in the wild is unknown.
The page saysStreaked tenrecs are almost exclusively worm-eaters, though they may eat other invertebrates too.
The source saysare almost exclusively vermivorous (worm-eating), but other available invertebrates may also be eaten
The page saysThey sometimes stamp on the ground with their forepaws, which may increase earthworm activity.
The source saysThey sometimes stamp on the ground with the forepaws, which may increase earthworm activity
The page saysLowland streaked tenrecs are mainly active through the day.
The source sayslowland streaked tenrecs are mainly active throughout the day
The page saysTheir burrows are sealed with a leaf plug.
The source saysA leaf plug seals the hole of both species’ burrows
The page saysOne burrow may hold one tenrec or, in the breeding season, as many as 23.
The source saysBurrows of lowland streaked tenrecs occur in primary or secondary forests and may be occupied by either one individual or as many as 23 during the breeding season
The page saysStreaked tenrecs are natural prey for Dumeril's boas, Malagasy fossas, ring-tailed mongooses and civets.
The source saysare the natural prey of Dumeril's boas (Acrantophis dumerilli), Malagasy ring-tailed mongooses (Galidia elegans), Malagasy fossas (Cryptoprocta ferox) and Malagasy civets (Fossa fossana)
The page saysTheir barbed, detachable quills are a defence mechanism.
The source saysBoth species have barbed detachable quills to use as a defense mechanism
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web reports as long as 30 months in captivity. Nobody knows how long they live in the wild.
The source sayslive as long as 30 months in captivity ... How long either species lives in the wild is unknown.
The page saysA newborn weighs about 11 g
The source saysYoung streaked tenrecs weigh about 11 g
The page saysspines start to grow within its first day
The source saysOffspring are born without spines, but begin to develop them within the first 24 hours of life.
The page saysYoung tenrecs are weaned by day 25 and count as adults by day 40.
The source saysBy day 25, both species are weaned; adulthood is reached by day 40
The page saysA streaked tenrec makes its sound mechanically: it rubs the tips of the specialized quills on its back together rapidly to produce high-frequency sounds.
The source saysWhen the tips of these spines are rubbed together rapidly they produce high-frequency sounds

Source
03

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Hemicentetes semispinosus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysthe AnAge longevity database lists an adult weight of 180 g
The source saysAdult weight 180 g
The page saysAnAge records 2.7 years from one captive animal and rates the data as questionable, with a small sample size.
The source saysMaximum longevity 2.7 years (captivity) ... Sample size Small Data quality Questionable Observations One captive specimen lived 2.7 years
The page saysweightKg: 0.18
The source saysAdult weight 180 g

Source
04

Natural History Museum, London

The weird world of tenrecs. Natural History Museum, London.

The page saysRubbing them together to make sound is known as stridulation, which insects such as cicadas do too.
The source saysThe group of closely gathered spikes on its lower back rub together to make sound. This is known as stridulation and is something also seen in insects, such as cicadas
The page saysHumans can't hear them.
The source saysHumans can’t hear the noises tenrecs make with their spines
The page saysNobody is sure why the stripes are bright
The source saysThe reason for their bright colours is a bit of a mystery.
The page saysThe Natural History Museum says scientists aren't certain that they evolved as a warning, and among the leaves on the forest floor they are probably still quite well camouflaged.
The source saysscientists aren’t certain whether that’s why it evolved in these tenrecs. They might seem highly visible, but surrounded by leaves on the forest floor, they’re probably still quite well camouflaged.

Source
05

Stephenson, Soarimalala & Goodman 2016

Stephenson, Soarimalala & Goodman (2016). Hemicentetes semispinosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T40593A97189434.

The page saysThe IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).
The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.