Tenrecidae

views updated May 23 2018

Tenrecidae (otter shrew, tenrec; suborder Lipotyphla, superfamily Soricoidea) A family of insectivores in which a cloaca is present, and in which the cusps of he molar teeth form a triangular V shape, except in the Potamogalinae, where they form a W shape. The Tenrecidae have undergone adaptive radiation to produce forms resembling shrews, moles, and hedgehogs, and Potamogale (otter shrew) is an aquatic form closely resembling true otters. Some are larger than most insectivores, one of the tenrecs attaining a length of 50 cm and P. velox (giant otter shrew) 60 cm. The Tenrecidae occur only in W. and Central Africa (Potamogalinae) and Madagascar (Tenrecinae). There are 11 genera, with 33 species.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY

tanrec

views updated May 17 2018

tanrec, tenrec insectivorous mammal allied to the hedgehog. XVIII. — F. tanrec — Malagasy t(r)āndraka.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

tenrec

views updated May 11 2018

tenrec See TENRECIDAE.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY

tenrec

views updated Jun 11 2018

tenrec see TANREC.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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