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10. The Strange Lowland Streaked Tenrec: Madagascar's Spiky Oddity
The lowland streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus), unique to Madagascar, is a small yet astonishing mammal. Looking like a hedgehog, it belongs to a separate family, evolved in isolation on the island.
Its quills have two roles: barbed ones detach to fend off predators, while special quills make high-pitched sounds for communication, a rare mammal trait called stridulation.
An omnivore, it eats insects, worms, and small vertebrates. Nocturnal and echolocating, it navigates dense forests with ease. Yet, deforestation endangers it, stressing the need to protect Madagascar's unique wildlife.
