Tenrec Resources and Information

Tenrec Species

The following classification has been assembled by members of the IUCN Afrotheria Specialist Group. Taxonomy follows Everson KM, Soarimalala V, Goodman SM, Olson LE (2016): Multiple loci and complete taxonomic sampling resolve the phylogeny and biogeographic history of tenrecs (Mammalia: Tenrecidae) and reveal higher speciation rates in Madagascar's humid forests. Systematic Biology 65: 890-909. The scientific name for each species is followed by the current IUCN Red List categories of threat:

[LC] = Least Concern [EN] = Endangered [NT] = Near Threatened
[CR] = Critically Endangered [VU] = Vulnerable [EX] = Extinct [DD] = Data Deficient

Illustrations are by Frithjof Spangenberg.

Superorder: Afrotheria  
Order: Afrosoricida  
Suborder: Tenrecomorpha (34 living and one extinct species)  
Family: Tenrecidae (31 living and one extinct species) Tenrecs
  Subfamily: Tenrecinae Spiny Tenrecs
    Genus: Echinops  
      Species: Echinops telfairi [LC] Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec
    Genus: Hemicentetes Streaked Tenrecs
      Species: Hemicentetes nigriceps [LC]
        (syn. Hemicentetes semispinosus nigriceps)
Highland Streaked Tenrec
      Species: Hemicentetes semispinosus [LC] Lowland Streaked Tenrec
    Genus: Setifer  
      Species: Setifer setosus [LC]
        (syn. Dasogale fontoynonti)
Greater Hedgehog Tenrec
    Genus: Tenrec  
      Species: Tenrec ecaudatus [LC]
        (syn. Centetes ecaudatus)
Tail-less Tenrec
  Subfamily: Geogalinae  
      Species: Geogale aurita [LC] Large-eared Tenrec
  Subfamily: Oryzorictinae Furred Tenrecs
    Genus: Microgale Shrew Tenrecs
      Species: Microgale brevicaudata [LC]
        (syn. Microgale breviceps)
        (syn. Paramicrogale occidentalis)
Short-tailed Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale cowani [LC]
        (syn. Microgale crassipes)
        (syn. Microgale longirostris)
        (syn. Microgale cowani nigrescens)
Cowan's Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale drouhardi [LC] Drouhard's Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale dryas [VU] Dryad Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale fotsifotsy [LC] Pale Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale gracilis [LC] Gracile Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale grandidieri [LC] Grandidier's Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale gymnorhyncha [LC] Naked-nosed Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale jenkinsae [EN] Jenkins' Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale jobihely [EN] Northern Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale longicaudata [LC]
        (syn. Microgale prolixacaudata)
Lesser Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec
      Species: †Microgale macpheei [EX] MacPhee's Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale majori [LC] Major's Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale mergulus [VU]
        (syn. Limnogale mergulus)
Web-footed Tenrec
      Species: Microgale monticola [VU] Montane Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale nasoloi [VU] Nasolo's Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale parvula [LC]
        (syn. Microgale pulla)
Pygmy Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale principula [LC]
        (syn. Microgale decaryi)
        (syn. Microgale sorella)
Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale pusilla [LC] Least Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale soricoides [LC] Shrew-toothed Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale taiva [LC] Taiva Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Microgale thomasi [LC] Thomas' Shrew Tenrec
    Genus: Nesogale Large-bodied Shrew Tenrecs
      Species: Nesogale dobsoni [LC] Dobson's Shrew Tenrec
      Species: Nesogale talazaci [LC] Talazac's Shrew Tenrec
    Genus: Oryzorictes Rice Tenrecs
      Species: Oryzorictes hova [LC]
        (syn. Oryzorictes talpoides)
Mole-like Rice Tenrec
      Species: Oryzorictes tetradactylus [DD] Four-toed Rice Tenrec
Family: Potamogalidae (3 species) Otter Shrews
    Genus: Potamogale  
      Species: Potamogale velox [LC] Giant Otter Shrew
    Genus: Micropotamogale  
      Species: Micropotamogale lamottei [VU] Nimba Otter Shrew
      Species: Micropotamogale ruwenzorii [LC] Ruwenzori Otter Shrew

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