---
title: "What the sources say about the Lowland Streaked Tenrec | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "41 claims from the Lowland Streaked Tenrec profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
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---

# What the sources say about the Lowland Streaked Tenrec (*Hemicentetes semispinosus*)

> 41 claims from the Lowland Streaked Tenrec profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Lowland Streaked Tenrec](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/lowland-streaked-tenrec/)

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

https://doi.org/10.2108/zsj.27.427

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A study confirmed thickened skin muscle beneath those quills. | Thickened cutaneous muscles were confirmed beneath quills |
| Its cells contain mainly fast myosin, and the findings indicate that it contributes to the vibration of the quills and to the sound they make. | Myocytes 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 |
| A study of the sound organ on the back found an arrangement of 15 or 16 light-brown quills | An arrangement of 15 or 16 light-brown quills was observed. |
| with thickened skin muscle beneath them | Thickened cutaneous muscles were confirmed beneath quills |
| The researchers named the structure the quill vibrator disc | We named this structure the "quill vibrator disc" (QVD). |
| in a typical adult it measured 16.8 mm long and 8.55 mm wide | The QVD was 16.8 mm long and 8.55 mm wide in a typical adult. |

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

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hemicentetes_semispinosus/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A black-and-yellow striped Madagascan tenrec, roughly 125 to 280 g, with back quills that rub together to make high-frequency sound. | lowland streaked tenrecs, whose body weight ranges from 125 to 280 g |
| Rainforests on the east side of Madagascar | are found in the rainforests on the east side of the island |
| Almost exclusively worms, with some other invertebrates | almost exclusively vermivorous (worm-eating), but other available invertebrates may also be eaten |
| A stridulation organ of 7 to 16 specialized quills on its back that make high-frequency sound when rubbed together. | A stridulation organ consisting of 7 to 16 specialized spines is found in both species |
| wears black and yellow quills, with four yellow stripes: one down the snout and three along the body | have 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 |
| A group of 7 to 16 of them on the back is a stridulation organ. | A stridulation organ consisting of 7 to 16 specialized spines |
| When the quill tips rub together, they make high-frequency sounds that scientists think let tenrecs in a foraging group talk to each other. | When 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 |
| When 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. | These 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. |
| Stamping of the forefeet and rushing at the disturbance may follow. | If a disturbance continues, stamping of the forefeet may occur as well as rushing at the disturbance |
| Streaked tenrecs of both species average 140 mm long and have no tail. | A tail is absent in both species, and body lengths average 140 mm |
| The lowland species weighs 125 to 280 g | lowland streaked tenrecs, whose body weight ranges from 125 to 280 g |
| The species lives in the rainforests on the east side of Madagascar, and it is found only on Madagascar. | both are found only on Madagascar. Lowland streaked tenrecs (H. semispinosus) are found in the rainforests on the east side of the island |
| In captivity, Animal Diversity Web reports up to 30 months. | live as long as 30 months in captivity |
| How long one lives in the wild is unknown. | How long either species lives in the wild is unknown. |
| Streaked tenrecs are almost exclusively worm-eaters, though they may eat other invertebrates too. | are almost exclusively vermivorous (worm-eating), but other available invertebrates may also be eaten |
| They sometimes stamp on the ground with their forepaws, which may increase earthworm activity. | They sometimes stamp on the ground with the forepaws, which may increase earthworm activity |
| Lowland streaked tenrecs are mainly active through the day. | lowland streaked tenrecs are mainly active throughout the day |
| Their burrows are sealed with a leaf plug. | A leaf plug seals the hole of both species’ burrows |
| One burrow may hold one tenrec or, in the breeding season, as many as 23. | Burrows 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 |
| Streaked tenrecs are natural prey for Dumeril's boas, Malagasy fossas, ring-tailed mongooses and civets. | are the natural prey of Dumeril's boas (Acrantophis dumerilli), Malagasy ring-tailed mongooses (Galidia elegans), Malagasy fossas (Cryptoprocta ferox) and Malagasy civets (Fossa fossana) |
| Their barbed, detachable quills are a defence mechanism. | Both species have barbed detachable quills to use as a defense mechanism |
| Animal Diversity Web reports as long as 30 months in captivity. Nobody knows how long they live in the wild. | live as long as 30 months in captivity ... How long either species lives in the wild is unknown. |
| A newborn weighs about 11 g | Young streaked tenrecs weigh about 11 g |
| spines start to grow within its first day | Offspring are born without spines, but begin to develop them within the first 24 hours of life. |
| Young tenrecs are weaned by day 25 and count as adults by day 40. | By day 25, both species are weaned; adulthood is reached by day 40 |
| A streaked tenrec makes its sound mechanically: it rubs the tips of the specialized quills on its back together rapidly to produce high-frequency sounds. | When the tips of these spines are rubbed together rapidly they produce high-frequency sounds |

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

https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Hemicentetes_semispinosus

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

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

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-weird-world-of-tenrecs.html

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Rubbing them together to make sound is known as stridulation, which insects such as cicadas do too. | The 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 |
| Humans can't hear them. | Humans can’t hear the noises tenrecs make with their spines |
| Nobody is sure why the stripes are bright | The reason for their bright colours is a bit of a mystery. |
| The 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. | scientists 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. |

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

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-1.rlts.t40593a97189434.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern. | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). |
| Least Concern | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). |