Мадагаскардың жолақты кіреукесі

Species of mammal

The lowland streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus) is a small tenrec found in Madagascar. It belongs to the family Tenrecidae in the order Afrosoricida, and more specifically to the subfamily of the spiny tenrecs Tenrecinae. Its natural habitats are in tropical lowland rain forests in northern and eastern parts of Madagascar. It is very closely related to the highland streaked tenrec.

It can be found on land, splashing in shallow waters or digging underground. Tenrecs inhabit the Indian Ocean Island of Madagascar and reside within rain forests. Tenrecs can often be found in their manufactured burrows and they place their nests that are hidden underneath leaves near a source of water.

The average body size for H. semispinosus is a length of however adults have been recorded to grow up to a maximum of Body weight for adults of this species can range from This species has a black spiny pelage with yellow or chestnut brown stripes that run the length of the body. In addition, the lowland streaked tenrec has been found to have thermolability, which depends on factors such as habitat and temperature.

These tenrecs are threatened primarily by the loss of their natural habitat due to continuous deforestation, as it is with many other animals in the Madagascar region. This species is also being hunted for food.

In preparation for birth, a pregnant female will use her snout as a spade to clear away a depression in the ground within the burrow. The Streaked tenrec will flaunt its quills to scare away any possible predators. When forced to engage another species it will use a rough headbutt in an attempt to immobilize its target.

The lowland streaked tenrec is active both during the day and at night. Its diet is made up primarily of earthworms, but it will sometimes prey on other invertebrates as well. It may be seen stamping its feet on the ground with its fore paws, an adaptation which is believed to increase earthworm activity for easier foraging. Most tenrecs possess a long snout for poking around in the ground to find their food. They are also capable of eating fruit. While the streaked tenrec does eat earthworms, the dirt may corrode their teeth with scratches and pits.

Breeding takes place during October to December and possibly at other times, depending upon local food supply and temperature. The gestation period lasts 58 days, and the female gives birth to usually between 5 and 8 young. The young are weaned at 18 to 25 days. These tenrecs on average attain the ability to conceive at about 35 days. They have the ability to reproduce during the same season they were produced. Movement of these quills causes the tips to rub together and create a high frequency sound. This display additionally occurs when males fight for females and when unfamiliar males come across one another. Female encounters however, have tactile contact and then increase the distance between each other. Due to its rarity, there is not sufficient information regarding the functional morphological mechanism of the streaked tenrec. The sounding quills are different from the spines and hair and are found in the mid dorsal region of the streaked tenrec. The arrangement and length are similar throughout the streaked tenrec's life span, making up three rows in its midline area and adjacent areas bilaterally.

The streaked tenrec has an ability to enter torpor seasonally. However, it is dependent on altitude, age, fat stores, and temperature. Torpor for this species generally occurs during June and July and during winter. However, H. semispinosus is a facultative hibernator and will come out of torpor during winter and forage. When foraging the soil and leaf litter is prodded with the tip of the nose until prey is detected. Elongated hands and digit adaptation (digits 2, 3, and 4) are the tenrec's main digging apparatus allowing it to unearth and pull its prey form the earth. The skull has an elongated rostrum with a slender jaw with small spaced dentition placed more forward in the mouth. This species has zalambdodont molars with a dental formula of I 3/3, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 3/3 having a total of 40 teeth. The sagittal crest and nuchal are less prominent in this species and the zygomatic processes are long and slender resulting in less projection from the sides of the skull. The occipital region in this species along with the visceral skeleton are commonly very conservative.