Greater hedgehog tenrec facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greater hedgehog tenrec
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Afrosoricida
Suborder:	Tenrecomorpha
Family:	Tenrecidae
Genus:	Setifer Froriep, 1806
Species:	S. setosus
Binomial name
Setifer setosus (Schreber, 1778)
Greater hedgehog tenrec range
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Synonyms
Dasogale fontoynonti Grandidier, 1929 (protonym)

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The greater hedgehog tenrec (Setifer setosus) is a small mammal found only on the island of Madagascar. It is also known as the large Madagascar hedgehog or sokina. Even though it looks a lot like a hedgehog, it is not closely related to them. It belongs to a special family of mammals called Tenrecidae, which are mostly found in Madagascar.

These tenrecs live in many different places. You can find them in tropical forests, bushy areas, grasslands, and even in gardens and towns. They are very good at adapting to different environments.

Where Do Greater Hedgehog Tenrecs Live?

Greater hedgehog tenrecs are found all over the island of Madagascar. This means they are endemic to Madagascar, which means they naturally live nowhere else in the world.

Madagascar has many different types of land, from areas at sea level (the height of the ocean) up to mountains 2,250 meters high. Greater hedgehog tenrecs live in most of these areas. They avoid very wet places like wetlands and marshes. You might even see them in cities or places where people live, showing how adaptable they are. They especially like the eastern forests and lower areas, probably because of the food they find there. They can live in both wet and dry parts of the island.