The Lowland Streaked Tenrec, The Talking Hedgehog-Like Creature
Roughly 29 million years ago, a small mammal landed in what is present-day Madagascar. Scientists know little about this prehistoric creature, but they know that the animal successfully adapted to the southern East African climate and flourished.
Later, this small mammal would go on to evolve into a variety of different animals, among them elephants, aardvarks, manatees, and tenrecs. There are about 37 identified species of tenrec, 10 of which are only found in Madagascar. Among them is the peculiar lowland streaked tenrec.
The lowland streaked tenrec, otherwise known as Hemicentetes semispinosus, is among the strangest creatures you'll ever set your sights on. It looks like a cross between a shrew and a hedgehog with a long, small snout and spikes covering its entire body. Their coloring is yellow with streaks of black, which likely inspired the "streaked" in its nickname.
Lowland streaked tenrecs inhabit the ground plains around the forests of Madagascar, which receive a frequent downpour of rain outside of the winter months. This period is especially important for the lowland streaked tenrec, as they prey on earthworms that sprout out of the wet soil during the rainy season, allowing them to bulk up before the dry winter season when food becomes scarce.
Their colorful mixed coat is made up of prickly little spikes. The spikes form a protective coat over the small animal's body, but they also have another unexpected use.
Lowland streaked tenrecs are communicative animals. They "speak" to each other through subtle vibrations that they pick up by rubbing their spikes together. This mode of communication is especially important when a mother wants to alert her offspring to imminent danger.
However, this sophisticated weaponry and communication method may have come at a cost.
Not all tenrecs developed sharp quills on their backs. A 2019 study concluded that the lowland streaked tenrecs, which are among the species of tenrec that have evolved to have spikes, may have traded a larger brain size for this defense mechanism.
The study is not yet definitive, but it is consistent with earlier studies of other mammals that have developed natural defense mechanisms on their bodies at the expense of larger brain size. Prior research has suggested that the evolution of physical defensive abilities may be correlated with a loss in brain mass.
Whether this proves to be true or not, one thing is certain: the lowland streaked tenrec's one-of-a-kind characteristics make it one of the weirdest animals in the world.
Now that you've seen 11 of the weirdest animals in the world, take a look at these strange-but-real animals featured in 'Animal Crossing.' Then, feast your eyes on some of the ugliest animals on Earth.
