What’s black and yellow, covered in quills, and native to Madagascar? Meet the lowland streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus). Its quills can be deployed to discourage predators like the Malagasy ring-tailed mongoose and Dumeril boa. The quills aren’t just armor—they can also be used for communication! By rubbing quill tips together, the animal creates a sound that’s thought to signal others. An insectivore, the tenrec uses its pointy snout to go after earthworms and other small soft-bodied invertebrates.
Photo: Frank Vassen
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