• Question: Are Tenrecs only found in Madagascar?

    Asked by bobsyouruncle to Sive on 13 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Sive Finlay

      Sive Finlay answered on 13 Nov 2013:

      Hi,

      Good question. We think that tenrecs evolved from a common ancestor which came from mainland Africa and then evolved in Madagascar into all the different types of tenrec species we see today. There are, however, two species of otter-like tenrecs which live in central and western Africa so somehow their ancestors went from Madagascar back to mainland Africa!
      The common tenrec also lives on some of the smaller islands off Madagascar like Mauritius and Reunion but they were brought to the islands by humans, usually for food!
      Sive

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