Great hedgehog trek

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Great hedgehog trek
Great hedgehog trek (Setifer setosus)

Great hedgehog trek ( Setifer setosus )

Systematics
without rank: Afroinsectiphilia
Order : Tenrecus (Afrosoricida)
Family : Tenreks (Tenrecidae)
Subfamily : Hedgehog treks (Tenrecinae)
Genre : Setifer
Type : Great hedgehog trek
Scientific name of the  genus
Setifer
Froriep , 1806
Scientific name of the  species
Setifer setosus
( Schreber , 1777)

The great hedgehog or great hedgehog ( Setifer setosus ), sometimes also common hedgehog , is a species of mammal from the Tenrek family (Tenrecidae). It is endemic to Madagascar and occurs all over the island. The animals prefer the tropical and humid landscapes of the eastern part of the island, but are also quite common in the dry western areas. In addition, they penetrate urban regions and can adapt well to landscapes that have been changed by humans. Outwardly, the great hedgehog trek is similar to the European hedgehog, but it is significantly smaller and has a shorter tail, and the long vibrissae are also characteristic . The coat color can vary regionally. It differs from other tenreks and especially from its closest relative, the little hedgehog tenrek , in the structure of its teeth.

As a rule, the great hedgehog trek lives solitary and is nocturnal. It moves forward on the ground, but can also climb trees. However, the ability is not as clearly developed as in the small hedgehog trek. The animals entertain own territories , which overlap at the edges with those of other individuals. The territories are very large compared to animal species with similar body dimensions. The great hedgehog retreats to rest in tree holes and underground burrows. The diet includes invertebrates and smaller vertebrates , overall an omnivorous diet prevails. The offspring are mostly born in the warmer and humid seasons, a litter includes up to seven young animals that grow up relatively quickly. In the arid regions of western Madagascar, females can give birth to up to three litters in one reproductive period. Characteristic of the Great Igeltenrek is the varying body temperature, which depends on the outside temperature and the activity and has a cyclical course over the day and year. The same applies to the metabolic rate , which is generally very low. The Great Igeltenrek spends the dry season in a torpor that lasts several months .

The Great Igeltenrek was first reported in Europe in the middle of the 17th century. The first scientific description of the species took place around a hundred years later, in 1777. In general, the animals were initially associated with European hedgehogs. It was not until the beginning of the 19th century that there was a stronger differentiation. The Great Igeltenrek received its generic name, which is valid today, in 1806. However, in the further course of the 19th and partly also in the 20th century it was often referred to other genres. The population of the large hedgehog trek is not considered endangered. In some regions of Madagascar it is hunted for food.

features

Habitus

Great hedgehog trek

The Great Igeltenrek is a medium-sized representative of the Tenreks. With a total length of 16 to 22.5 cm, it is only slightly larger than the small hedgehog trek ( Echinops telfairi ), as in this case the tail consists of a stub that is only 15 to 16 mm long. The body weight varies from 150 to 220 g, but can sometimes reach 300 g and more, generally it depends on the condition of the individual and the season. A noticeable gender dimorphism is not present. In their external appearance, the animals resemble the hedgehogs , which is caused by the robust, rounded body, the pointed snout and the spines. The differences are in the very short, conical tail, the very long vibrissae and the smaller body size, which is only half that of a European hedgehog. The dorsal fur is formed by very closely standing spines, on average 15 mm long. In general, animals from the more humid eastern Madagascar have darker spike tips than those from the drier western part. The underside of the body, the face and the limbs show only a sparse, fur covering of light gray, soft hair. The eyes are relatively small, as are the ears, which are about the length of the spines. The comparatively long limbs end in five rays at the front and back. These have claws, they are 6 mm long on the hands and 7 mm long on the feet. The entire rear foot measures approximately 31 mm in length. Females have five or six pairs of teats .

Skull and dentition features

The average skull length is 46.2 mm, the average width measured at the zygomatic arch 23.1 mm. The narrowest point is reached on the eyes with an average value of 10.9 mm. In general, the skull is moderately robust, the rostrum appears wide and high, the brain skull short. The ratio of the anterior to the posterior section of the skull is 0.61: 0.39. In contrast to the Kleiner Igeltenrek, the forehead line bulges more because the frontal bone is inflated in the rear area. As with all tenreks, the zygomatic arch is not closed. In the back of the skull, strong bones are formed as muscle attachment points. The dentition consists of 36 teeth along the dental formula is as follows: . It is therefore not quite as reduced as in the small hedgehog trek. The upper inner incisor is almost the size of the canine and is well developed. In the lower dentition, there are short diastemas on both sides of the canine and the anterior premolar . The two posterior premolars are molarized and thus resemble the molars. Similar to the other tenreks, these have a zalambdodont chewing surface pattern consisting of three main tubercles. In the upper row of teeth, the molars do not show as much reduction in size as in the small hedgehog trek. As a result, in the large hedgehog trek, the foremost molar is the largest tooth in the row and not the last premolar as in the small hedgehog trek.

Skeletal features

Skeleton of the great hedgehog trek

The spine is made up of 7 cervical, 16 to 17 thoracic, 6 to 7 lumbar, two sacrum and 9 tail vertebrae. In the structure of the musculoskeletal system, there are individual features that suggest both a ground-based and a tree-dwelling way of life; the latter are usually not as clearly pronounced as in the small hedgehog trek. The shoulder blade is rather broad and not as narrow as in the digging tenrek forms. On the humerus , the head is more rounded, which corresponds to the small hedgehog tenrek , but in contrast to the large tenrek ( Tenrec ecaudatus ), the lower joint role ( elbow joint ) widens in front and behind. As with the other two Tenrek representatives, the upper articular process of the ulna , the olecranon , with a length of only 16% of the total bone shows hardly any tendency to stretch, the forearm muscles attached here are therefore not excessively strong. In contrast to the digging representatives of the Tenreks, there are no adhesions on the carpal bones , which advocates a greater ability of the hand to rotate. The metacarpal bones are again elongated, but not to the same extent as in the small hedgehog trek. The inner beam is also shorter overall and the ability to grasp is therefore more limited. Differences can also be found in the claws, which are longer and not quite as curved in the great hedgehog trek as in its relative. However, with their overall very narrow shape, they correspond to the claws of other climbing mammals. The feet also have individual modifications such as the flat ankles, which, like the little hedgehog trek, limit mobility less. The fact that the foot of the large hedgehog trek is not as flexible as that of the small hedgehog trek is shown by the stronger ridges on the talus roll of the talus and the resulting deeper arching of the articular surface, which fixes the shin better. The transition to the neck of the talus is also more structured.

distribution

Distribution of the great hedgehog trek

The great hedgehog trek is endemic to Madagascar and is distributed over the entire island. It can be found in almost all landscape areas with the exception of floodplains and marshland areas . In addition, it occurs in individual urban regions such as Antananarivo and has even been observed in areas that are extremely heavily influenced by humans. Although the animals prefer the more humid eastern forests, they are also native to the drier landscapes of the west. Since investigations in the 1990s, almost 30 sites with evidence of the species have been registered there; in the southwest it occurs sympathetically with the small hedgehog trek . As a rule, the animals colonize the lowland regions below 900 m, but locally the height distribution extends up to about 2250 m. In some areas where the great hedgehog trek occurs, it is one of the most frequently proven representatives of the tenreks.

Way of life

Territorial and social behavior

The way of life of the great hedgehog trek is relatively well researched through captive observations and field studies. The animals are nocturnal with a bimodal distribution of activity. The first phase begins around 2:00 p.m. and reaches its climax around 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., after which there is a break in the two hours before midnight. A second peak is reached around 2:00 a.m., the activity then subsides in the following four hours. This means that the animals spend around 16 hours a day actively. However, the start is often delayed at lower outside temperatures. The animals are largely ground-dwelling, where they move forward in the cloister and touching down with their whole feet. When running fast, however, usually only the toes touch the ground. The large hedgehog trek is also a comparatively good climber, but its foot cannot be rotated as much as the small hedgehog trek. In principle, you see him less often in the trees than his smaller relatives. As on the ground, it tends to be slow in the branches and climbs with alternating movements of the limbs. Hands and feet grip the branches, sometimes the tail is used to pry off. In unfamiliar terrain, the little hedgehog often pauses and sniffs in the air, sometimes getting up on its hind legs.

Great hedgehog trek, photo from Ankarafantsika National Park

As a rule, the great hedgehog trek occurs individually with the exception of mother-young groups. The animals maintain their own territories , which, according to studies in the Ankarafantsika National Park in northwest Madagascar, are relatively large for relatively small mammals. According to this, males claim a territory of 4.9 to 21.1 ha (average 13.7 ha), with females it is 0.9 to 9.2 ha (average 6.7 ha). The territories overlap with others at the edges, the overlaps are more or less independent of the gender of the neighbor. Within the territories, the animals rest in tree hollows and hollow, dead trees. In Ankarafantsika, the resting places were at a height of 0.5 to over 2 m in trees with mainly 10 to 20 cm trunk diameter. Suckling females seek on average higher altitudes, probably as protection from predators. In addition, the shelters should offer little insight. Mother and young animals also stay in the tree hollows for a long time, around 20 to 25 days. Otherwise, the Little Igeltenrek changes its sleeping place every day and rarely uses an older one again. Occasionally, however, a neighboring animal can seek out and occupy an already used shelter. The retreats contain nests made of plant material that the animals carry in their mouths. In regions with suitable, non-sandy subsoil, the Little Igeltenrek also retreats into underground structures, some of which it creates itself on slopes. Two burrows observed near Manandroy north of Fianarantsoa in central-eastern Madagascar consisted of a 60 cm long, 6 cm wide corridor that led into a nest chamber 7.5 cm wide. Such burrows may be visited more regularly. In the resting position, an animal curls up crouching on its hind legs; it rarely lies on its side.

Encounters between same-sex animals are characterized by avoidance behavior . As a rule, they consist of sniffing each other's nose and body, after which the animals separate again. In the case of aggressive behavior, the spines are set up and the mouth opened. Stronger pressure results in typical upward and downward or lateral head movements and biting attacks. Endangered animals mostly flee, reaching speeds of up to 3.2 km / h, or curl up in a ball with the spines set at their maximum. The sense of smell is important for intra-species communication . The great hedgehog often defecates near the entrances to its burrows . He also rubs his body on branches and twigs and thus sets scent marks. The sound communication takes place via different tones. The most common are Tschilp sounds with a frequency of 1000 to 3000  Hz and a duration of 0.03 to 0.05 s. When distressed, the animals utter a “putt-putt” call, for example when curling up, or a hissing sound. In addition to scratching and licking, the comfort behavior also includes the “face washing” typical of other tenreks in a sitting position with both front legs at the same time.

Diet and energy balance

The Great Igeltenrek is not very specialized in its diet. It ingests invertebrates such as grasshoppers , other insects and earthworms, as well as smaller vertebrates such as frogs and mice . In human captivity, he also devoured the innards or meat of larger mammals. However, the teeth of the great hedgehog trek are not suitable for killing prey larger than insects or young mice. In the vicinity of settlements, animals have been seen rummaging through rubbish, and some of them also eat carrion . The omnivorous diet in principle has also been confirmed by isotope studies on individuals from Tsinjoarivo in central-eastern Madagascar. The prey is picked up with the teeth, the front feet hardly play a role in manipulating the food. The amount of food consumed daily varies and depends on the condition of the animals and the season. Under human care, the animals ate an average of 15 to 20 g of meat and 5 to 6 mealworms or 2 to 3 desert locusts . The great hedgehog regularly drinks water.

Like many other tenreks, the body temperature of the great hedgehog trek varies considerably and depends on the environmental conditions and the activity. Laboratory tests under controlled conditions have shown that the lowest values ​​for body temperature were reached during rest from the early morning hours to midday. They were then only a few degrees above the outside temperature, with an average of 22 ° C. The highest values ​​were found in the active phase in the early evening and night, the mean value was 31.5 ° C. When the outside temperature fell, the animals restricted their activities and became lethargic; at less than 15 ° C they fell into a torpor . Field studies in Ankarafantsika National Park partially confirmed the results. According to these, during the southern summer (November to May) the body temperature in the inactive phase is actually lower on average than in the active phase, the corresponding values ​​are 30.8 ° C and 32.2 ° C. The absolute limit values ​​vary from 26.5 to 35.1 ° C, which is a range of more than 8 ° C. During the active phase, the body temperature is much more stable than in the inactive phase. With the latter, the fluctuations are sometimes so strong that in the upper temperature range they sometimes exceed the maximum values ​​achieved in the active phase. Accordingly, temperature regulation takes place during the activity period. The respective outside temperatures were not very variable during the study period and were between 20 and 30 ° C. Studies in the area around Fianarantsoa have shown similar values . However, the average body temperatures measured here are somewhat lower, as were the outside temperatures. The field observations in the Ankarafantsika National Park also showed that the torpor can occur in southern summer at least in the dry western Madagascar at any outside temperature and then last for up to three hours, preferably during the day during the inactive phase. In contrast, reports from the damp eastern Madagascar report that the great hedgehog trek rarely changes into a state of rigidity in the southern summer. During the torpor, the body temperature drops and approaches the outside temperature, but fluctuations also occur here, some of which include very high body temperatures. The fluctuations in the high range of body temperature are probably due to energy savings. They enable the temperature regulation to start passively in the rather tropical warm climate and not to have to be started actively as in cooler areas. In the southern winter from May to September, the torpor increases, the phase can last five to seven months, depending on the geographical location. What is striking in the Ankarafantsika National Park are the gender-dependent entry times into winter dormancy; in females it begins between April and May, while in males it begins in February to March and thus much earlier. The difference is due to the rearing of the offspring by the females. The breathing and heart rate are also subject to similar rhythmic fluctuations in the course of the day as the body temperature.

Female animals in the reproductive phase or during milk production are an exception. These show a significantly more stable body temperature with average higher values ​​of around 33.1 ° C, the fluctuation range is around 3.5 ° C. In addition, they tend to fall into a torpor less often. The more stable body temperature is associated with a higher metabolic rate . The large hedgehog trek is usually characterized by a very low metabolism, the values ​​of which correspond roughly to those of the small hedgehog trek, but it increases by up to two times during reproduction. Significant changes in weight are also cyclical. Animals immediately after hibernation weigh between 120 and 160 g. The body weight, which increases sharply during the southern summer, reaches its maximum shortly before the next dry season, males can then weigh up to 327 g. Females also gain weight, and they also carry off the offspring, so that individual animals can then weigh over 350 g.

Reproduction

The main reproductive phase falls in the southern summer and usually begins immediately after the end of the torpor phase. However, it is assumed that the Great Hedgehog Recorder may also be willing to mate in southern winter, depending on its geographical location. The Great Igeltenrek probably has more promiscuous mating behavior, which is supported, among other things, by the distribution of the individual territories. The male advertises the female by marking the burrow and the surrounding area. Contact is established by sniffing each other's nose, body and bottom. The female also partially defecates and the remains are licked off by the male. When sitting up afterwards, the male tries to stimulate the female with characteristic scratching movements of his hind feet against the genitals. A single sexual act can take up to 28 minutes, the entire mating process sometimes takes more than two hours, as the separation of the partners is delayed by the entanglement of the penis in the female genitals.

The gestation period is between 51 and 69 days, it depends on the weather; it is shorter in warmer weather than in colder weather. About a week before the birth, the female increases her nest building activities. The litter size is up to seven newborns, usually one to five animals are born, on average there are three. One cub measured was 78 mm long and weighed 24.7 g. The young are born as a nestling , their eyes and ears are closed, the body is only sparsely hairy, but spines 0.5 mm in length can already be seen on the back. The skin color is generally whitish and the hair and spines have a grayish-light tint. The boys can already curl up in a ball and crawl with all fours. The mother shows strong care in the first few weeks and defends the nest. After about a week, the spines of the young are already 4 mm long. The eyes open between the 9th and 14th day. At this point the young follow the mother out of the burrow and begin to eat solid food. A second group of spines, mostly dark in color, develops in the third week; these are oriented differently than the existing spines, so that both groups provide effective protection. In addition, a soft fluff of hair grows between the spines, which is lost again later and does not occur in adult animals. Weaning also begins in this period and ends around two weeks later. Sexual maturity is reached after around 74 days.

According to studies in Ankarafantsika, females have up to three litters within one reproductive period. You can get pregnant again while the young are rearing and bear the next offspring. This is possible most likely by a post-partum- estrus , allowing the females to be ready to receive again shortly after birth, an effect that so far only the large-eared tenrec ( Geogale aurita was known). It is unclear whether such a rapid birth sequence also occurs in animals from the more humid east of Madagascar, previous reports usually speak of a litter without the female becoming pregnant again. It can be assumed that the faster reproduction of the great hedgehog in the western part of the island is determined by the drier conditions there, with a rapid decline in available food sources during the southern winter. The survival rate of the offspring is low. Of six litters observed in Ankarafantsika National Park in 2010 and 2011, four were lost. Life expectancy in the wild is unknown, the maximum age of an animal in human care was approximately 14 years.

Predators and parasites

Similar to the small hedgehog trek, the great hedgehog trek may also be protected from numerous smaller predators by its spiked dress and its ability to curl up in a ball . Occasionally, however, an individual falls victim to the fossa . Much more frequently the Capture documented by snakes, among the most important predators here include the Madagascar Tree Boa and the acrantophis madagascariensis . External parasites mainly include fleas of the genera Paractenopsyllus and Synopsyllus , and there is evidence of rat flea , the main host of which is the house rat . There are also ticks of the genera Ixodes and Haemaphysalis . The small liver fluke and the unicellular Eimeria have been identified as internal parasites . In addition, neoplasms are documented.

Systematics

Internal systematics of the Tenreks according to Everson et al. 2016
 Tenrecidae  
  Tenrecinae  


 Echinops


   

 Setifer setosus



   

 Hemicentetes 


   

 Tenrec




   
  Geogalinae  

 Geogals


  Oryzorictinae  

 Oryzorictes 


   

 Nesogale


   

 Microgale






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The great hedgehog is a species from the genus Setifer, which is classified as monotypical today . Species and genus belong to the Tenrek family (Tenrecidae), within this they form the subfamily of the hedgehog tenreks (Tenrecinae) together with the large tenrek ( Tenrec ecaudatus ) as well as the small hedgehog ( Ehinops telfairi ) and the striped duck ( Hemicentetes ). The hedgehog tenreks, in turn, represent one of the main lines of the tenreks. Their spiky coat is characteristic, which distinguishes them from the other soft-haired tenreks such as the very diverse rice burrowers (Oryzorictinae) and the monotypical Erdtenreks (Geogalinae). According to molecular genetic analyzes , the large and small hedgehog tenreks are sister forms within the subfamily of the hedgehog tenreks. Outwardly, both species are very similar, they are the only tenreks able to curl up into a protective ball. An important differentiator is the different number of teeth, in addition there are individual deviating tooth and skull features. Opposite them is a clade formed from the Great Tenrek and the Striped Tenreks. The lines of origin of the large and small hedgehog treks already separated in the Middle Miocene around 10.2 million years ago.

The independence of the large hedgehog trek had never been in doubt since it was first described by Johann Christian von Schreber in 1777. However, Fredericus Anna Jentink assigned him to the Kleiner Igeltenrek in 1879, which William Charles Linnaeus Martin had introduced in 1838. Jentink referred to the holotype of the small hedgehog trek, which in his opinion would represent a not fully grown specimen of the great hedgehog trek due to its smaller body size and the only two developed molars. In the period that followed, some scholars adopted this view, including George Edward Dobson in his classic essay on insectivores. However, Oldfield Thomas contradicted this in 1892 and raised the Kleiner Igeltenrek again to species status, which should remain recognized to this day. For Thomas, it was not only the different set of teeth that was decisive, he also referred to the differently shaped claws, which are longer and wider on the large hedgehog trek than on the small one.

Research history

Discovery and first description

Johann Christian von Schreber
Schreber's depiction of the great hedgehog trek

The first reports about the Great Igeltenrek go back to the 17th century. In his work Histoire de la grande isle Madagascar , published several times in 1658, Étienne de Flacourt , former governor of Madagascar, mentioned a hedgehog-like animal, which he called a "tendrac". According to Flacourt, the animal would sleep for six months, which is why it burrows itself in the ground and also does not eat any food during this time. In addition to a drawing of the "Tendrac", he also gives the local name "Sora". More than a hundred years later, Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon described the "Tendrac" in more detail in the twelfth volume of his work Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière in 1764 and also reproduced it. According to this, the "Tendrac" had a characteristic hedgehog-like spiked dress, but it was significantly smaller than the European hedgehogs known at the time, so that its size was roughly that of a mole . Buffon put the "Tendrac" next to the "Tanrec", the latter differs from the former in its generally larger dimensions and is now associated with the Great Tenrek ( Tenrec ecaudatus ). Buffon based his remarks on "Tendrac" and "Tanrec" on two animals from the collection of the then Cabinet du roi , from which the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris emerged, and which came to this via a dealer from Lyon. The individual that Buffon assigned to the "Tendrac", according to later information, had a body length of about 16 cm. In 1777, Johann Christian von Schreber presented a German-language description of the "Tendrac" in his comprehensive work The mammals in pictures according to nature with descriptions , referring to Buffon. In an additional volume he also included a picture of the animal that is very similar to Buffon's. In addition, the scientific name Erinaceus setosus is noted there, which is why Schreber is considered the first scientific descriptor of the Great Hedgehog. Schreber put the species in the family circle of the European hedgehogs , the specific epithet is derived from the Latin word saetōsus for "bristly" or "hairy" and refers to the spiked dress. Schreber generally stated Madagascar as the region of origin, but he also assumed an occurrence in East India.

Subspecies and synonyms

Representation of Ericulus nigrescens

In addition to the nominate form Erinaceus setosus named by Schreber, various subspecies have been recognized in the course of research history. Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire introduced the form Ericulus nigrescens in 1839 , which he described as extremely dark-haired. He referred to a letter from William Telfair published six years earlier , in which he presented a tenrek to the Zoological Society of London , which he believed to be a young of the Great Tenrek. However, as early as 1838 William Charles Linnaeus Martin had brought the individual into connection with the little hedgehog ( Echinops telfairi ) that he named . In 1926 realized Oldfield Thomas with Ericulus setosus setosus and Ericulus setosus nigrescens two subspecies and led with Ericulus setosus Melantho a third one, which as the latter was dark but significantly larger than the other two. The three subspecies were also partially listed later, but they are not generally recognized today. A form mainly used in the 19th century is Centenes spinosus , which was established by Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest in 1820, referring to Buffon's "Tendrac". This is also considered to be synonymous with Setifer setosus today .

Setiger , Ericulus and Dasogale - On the problem of the genre

Ludwig Friedrich von Froriep

The reference of the great hedgehog to the hedgehogs was quite common in the 18th century, only in the 19th century a stronger differentiation of the different forms took place. The generic name Setifer , which is valid today, comes from Ludwig Friedrich von Froriep in 1806. Froriep had translated the work Zoologie analytique , created in the same year by André Marie Constant Duméril , from French into German, in it he added the name Setifer and put it with Erinaceus setosus in a unique relationship. Neither can be found in the original work. The word setifer is based (like setosus ) on the Latin term saeta for "bristle". As early as 1803, Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire used the basically similar word Setiger to differentiate today's hedgehog treks from European hedgehogs. Setiger was then widely used in scientific literature in the course of the 19th century, mostly the generic name was associated with the great hedgehog. According to Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Setiger included not only the great hedgehog, but also the great tenrek and the actual striped duck ( Hemicentetes semispinosus ). In this expanded perspective and based on all Tenreks known at the time, Georges Cuvier had already used the term three years earlier in the first part of his work Leçons d'anatomie comparée . Due to the inaccuracies in the naming in relation to the Great Igeltenrek, the Great Tenrek and the actual Streifentenrek, it was proposed in 1930 to classify Setiger as a direct synonym for Tenrec .

Another name that was frequently used in the 19th and sometimes well into the 20th century is Ericulus . This was again introduced by Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1837. He did not initially associate them with a specific species, but included tenreks in the genus with small stature, strong claws, short tail and elongated skull and a total of four incisors and six molars in the upper jaw. In a more extensive article published two years later, Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire explicitly named Ericulus spinosus and Ericulus nigrescens , i.e. today's synonymous forms of the Great Hedgehog. Sometimes the small hedgehog trek was part of the genus Ericulus next to the large one , although the latter was occasionally separated at the level of the sub-genus ( Echinops ). However, both forms are now considered separate, and the generic name Setifer prevailed over Ericulus in the second half of the 20th century .

In 1928, Guillaume Grandidier named the genus Dasogale with the only species Dasogale fontoynonti in honor of the then chairman of the Madagascan Academy of Sciences, Antoine Maurice Fontoynont . Genus and species were based on two individuals, of which the holotype consists of a damaged skull and lower jaw, some limb bones and pieces of skin with fur. Grandidier gave only vague origins to grande forêt orientale ("great eastern forest"). He described the dentition with a total of 32 teeth as similar to that of the little hedgehog, since only two molars are formed per half of the jaw. However, he noticed differences in the structure of the teeth, for example in the special design of the molars. Therefore, he advocated an independent position with regard to the different morphology and the different distribution, but saw Dasogale in the vicinity of the little hedgehog. Further specimens of Dasogale were not discovered in the following years , but hardly any researcher doubted the existence of the taxon . At the beginning of the 1980s, Walter Poduschka discovered when examining the original material that the two specimens were juveniles of the great hedgehog. This is supported by the front set of teeth, which consists of milk teeth and has incisors of roughly the same size. In addition, the third molar had not yet erupted in the holotype, which can be seen from the position of the last tooth in the row of teeth: in all Tenreks the last molar is clearly turned in to the other teeth, but this is not the case with Dasogale . Finally, other features such as the nature of the spines also indicate that the two individuals are identical to the Great Hedgehog Trec. Irrespective of Poduschka's investigation, Ross DE MacPhee only a few years later came to a consistent result with almost identical evidence.

Tribal history

In general, tenrek fossil finds are rather rare. There are a few isolated subfossil remains from the Great Igeltenrek. Among the most important are those of the Ankilitelo Cave , which is located on the southern edge of the Mikoboka Plateau north of Toliara in southwestern Madagascar. A very rich fauna has been excavated here since the beginning of the investigation in 1994. It mainly includes the bones and teeth of various primates , bats and rodents , but around half a dozen species of tenreks have also come down to us. The great hedgehog is the most frequently recorded representative of the family, it is occupied with numerous jaw, tooth and skull remains of both adult and juvenile animals. The finds are dated to an age of around 510 to 630 years. The species has also been documented from the Andrahomana Cave in the extreme southeast of Madagascar. The cave is embedded in the Eolianite outcrops of the steep coast and also contains an extremely rich fossil material. It has been scientifically investigated since the end of the 19th century. The sequence of layers and the finds recovered from them cover the period of around 8,700 years. Both find regions are characterized by dry climates, but in the area of ​​the Andrahomana Cave there is also a certain influence of the humid conditions of eastern Madagascar noticeable.

Threat and protection

There are no known major threats to the population of the great hedgehog. Its meat is used as a food resource and sold in markets and restaurants. This can lead to greater local populations through overhunting. In some regions, however, there is a taboo that forbids hunting the animals. The IUCN lists the species as "not endangered" ( least concern ). The Great Hedgehog Tenrec is present in several nature reserves, including the Amber Mountain National Park , the National Park Ankarafantsika in Ranomafana National Park , the National Park Zombitse-Vohibasia , in Andringitra National Park , the National Park Andohahela and in the Isalo National Park .

literature

  • JF Eisenberg and Edwin Gould: The Tenrecs: A Study in Mammalian Behavior and Evolution. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1970, pp. 1-138
  • Kathryn M. Everson, Voahangy Soarimalala, Steven M. Goodman and Link E. Olson: 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 (5), 2016, pp. 890-909 doi: 10.1093 / sysbio / syw034
  • Nick Garbutt: Mammals of Madagascar. A complete guide. Yale University Press, 2007, pp. 1–304 (pp. 32–56)
  • Paulina D. Jenkins: Tenrecidae (Tenrecs and Shrew tenrecs). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 8: Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2018, pp. 134–172 (pp. 163–164) ISBN 978-84-16728-08-4
  • Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Danielle L. Levesque, D. Rakotondravony and Barry G. Lovegrove: Home range and shelter site selection in the greater hedgehog tenrec in the dry deciduous forest of Western Madagascar. Journal of Zoology 287, 2012, pp. 161-168
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h Danielle L. Levesque, OMA Lovasoa, SN Rakotoharimalala and Barry G. Lovegrove: High mortality and annual fecundity in a free-ranging basal placental mammal, Setifer setosus (Tenrecidae: Afrosoricida). Journal of Zoology 291, 2013, pp. 205-212
  3. ↑ a b Oldfield Thomas: On the insectivorous genus Echinops, Martin, with notes oh the dentition of allied species. Proceedings of the. Zoological Society of London, 1892, pp. 500–505 ( [1] )
  4. ^ A b c Walter Poduschka: Hyperthelia, litter size and gestation period in the subfamily Tenrecinae Cabrera, 1925 (Mammalia: Insectivora: Tenrecidae), together with remarks on the longitudinal striations of the genus Hemicentetes. Contributions to Zoology 66 (2), 1996, pp. 119-128
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Konrad Herter: About the hedgehogs of Madagascar (Tenrecinae). Meeting reports of the Society of Friends of Natural Sciences in Berlin NF 2, 1962, pp. 5-37
  6. ^ A b c d e Edwin Gould and John F. Eisenberg: Notes on the biology of the Tenrecidae. Journal of Mammalogy 47 (4), 1966, pp. 660-686
  7. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m J. F. Eisenberg and Edwin Gould: The Tenrecs: A Study in Mammalian Behavior and Evolution. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1970, pp. 1-138
  8. ^ A b Nick Garbutt: Mammals of Madagascar. A complete guide. Yale University Press, 2007, pp. 1–304 (pp. 32–56)
  9. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Paulina D. Jenkins: Tenrecidae (Tenrecs and Shrew tenrecs). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 8: Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2018, pp. 134–172 (pp. 163–164) ISBN 978-84-16728-08-4
  10. ^ A b c Walter Poduschka and Christl Poduschka: The taxonomic affiliation of Dasogale fontoynonti G. Grandidier, 1928. Session reports of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Mathematical and Natural Science Class, Department 1, 191, 1982, pp. 253-264
  11. ↑ a b c Wilhelm Leche: On the history of the development of the mammalian tooth system, at the same time a contribution to the tribal history of this group of animals. Part two: phylogeny. Second booklet: Families of the Centetidae, Solenodontidae and Chrysochloridae. Zoologica 20, 1906/1908, pp. 1–157 ( [2] )
  12. ^ Justine A. Salton and Eric J. Sargis: Evolutionary morphology of the Tenrecoidea (Mammalia) carpal complex. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 93, 2008, pp. 267-288
  13. ^ Justine A. Salton and Eric J. Sargis: Evolutionary Morphology of the Tenrecoidea (Mammalia) Forelimb Skeleton. In: EJ Sargis and M. Dagosto (Eds.): Mammalian Evolutionary Morphology: A Tribute to Frederick S. Szalay, Springer Science, 2008, pp. 51-71
  14. ^ Justine A. Salton and Frederick S. Szalay: The Tarsal Complex of Afro-Malagasy Tenrecoidea: A Search for Phylogenetically Meaningful Characters. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 11 (2), 2004, pp. 73-104
  15. ↑ Voahangy Soarimalala: Les Afrosoricides de la forêt sèche malgache. Afrotherian Conservation 8, 2011, pp. 4-9
  16. ^ A b P. J. Stephenson, Voahangy Soarimalala and Steven M. Goodman: Setifer setosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. e.T40594A97203842 ( [3] ); last accessed on April 3, 2017
  17. ↑ a b c d e f g Konrad Herter: Investigations on living hedgehogs (Tenrecinae), 4: About the behavior and the rhythm of activity of a Setifer setosus (Schreber) in captivity. Zoological Contributions 10, 1964, pp. 161-187
  18. ^ Peter J. Stephenson, Paul A. Racey, and Félix Rakotondraparany: Maintenance and reproduction of tenrecs (Tenrecidae) at Parc Tsimbazaza, Madagascar. International Zoo Yearbook 33, 1994, pp. 194-201
  19. ↑ a b A. L. Rand: On the Habits of Some Madagascar Mammals. Journal of Mammalogy 16 (2), 1935, pp. 89-104
  20. ^ JJ Petter and A. Petter-Rousseaux: Notes biologiques sur les Centetinae. La Terre et la Vie 17 (1), 1963, pp. 66-80
  21. ↑ Melanie Dammhahn, Voahangy Soarimalala and Steven M. Goodman: Trophic Niche Differentiation and Microhabitat Utilization in a Species-rich Montane Forest Small Mammal Community of Eastern Madagascar. Biotropica 45 (1), 2013, pp. 111-118
  22. ^ A b C. Kayser: Consommation d'oxygène et temperature central au cours de l'hiver austral de deux insectivores de Madagascar, Centetes ecaudatus et Setifer setosus. Comptes rendus des séances de la Société de Biologie 154, 1960, pp. 1873–1876 ( [4] )
  23. ↑ a b G. Hildwein: Evolution Saisonnière de la termorégulation chez l'Ericulus (Setifer setosus) (Mammifère Insectivore). Comptes Rendus des Séances de la Société de Biologie et de ses Filiales 158, 1964, pp. 1580–1583 ( [5] )
  24. ↑ a b c Danielle L. Levesque and Barry G. Lovegrove: Increased homeothermy during reproduction in a basal placental mammal. The Journal of Experimental Biology 217, 2014, pp. 1535-1542
  25. ↑ a b c Danielle L. Levesque, Kerileigh D. Lobban and Barry G. Lovegrove: Effects of reproductive status and high ambient temperatures on the body temperature of a free-ranging basoendotherm. Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 2014 doi: 10.1007 / s00360-014-0858-4
  26. ↑ a b Barry G. Lovegrove, Cindy Canale, Danielle Levesque, Gerhard Fluch, Milada Řeháková-Petrů and Thomas Ruf: Are Tropical Small Mammals Physiologically Vulnerable to Arrhenius Effects and Climate Change? Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 87 (1), 2014, pp. 30-45
  27. ↑ a b Walter Poduschka: The mating behavior of the Great Igel-Tenrek (Setifer setosus, Froriep 1806) and the question of the phylogenetic age of some mating details. Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie 34, 1974, pp. 345-358
  28. ↑ John F. Eisenberg: Tenrecs and solenodons in captivity. International Zoo Yearbook 15, 1975, pp. 6-12
  29. ↑ Richard Weigl: Longevity of mammals in captivity; from the Living Collections of the world A list of mammalian longevity in captivity. Kleine Senckenberg series, Volume 48, 2005, pp. 1–214 (p. 34)
  30. ↑ Steven M. Goodman, O. Langrand and BPN Rasolonandrasana: The food habits of Cryptoprocta ferox in the high mountain zone of the Andringitra Massif, Madagascar (Carnivore, Viverridae). Mammalia 61 (2), 1997, pp. 185-192
  31. ^ Luke Dollar, Jörg U. Ganzhorn and Steven M. Goodman: Primates and other prey in the seasonally variable diet of Cryptoprocta ferox in the deciduous forest of Western Madagascar. In: S. Gursky and KA Nekaris (eds.): Predation on primates. New York, 2007, pp. 63-76
  32. ↑ Jean-Claude Beaucournu, H. Rico Randrenjarison Andriniaina and Steven M. Goodman: Puces (Insecta: Siphonaptera) d'Ambohitantely, Madagascar: Spécificité et phenologie. Malagasy Nature 9, 2015, pp. 39-48
  33. ↑ J.-B. Duchemin: Leptopsyllines from Madagascar (Insecta: Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae): Description of five new species of Paractenopsyllus Wagner, (1938). Parasite 11, 2004, pp. 59-70
  34. ↑ Steven M. Goodman, H. Rico Randrenjarison Andriniaina, Voahangy Soarimalala and Jean-Claude Beaucournu: The Fleas of Endemic and Introduced Small Mammals in Central Highland Forests of Madagascar: Faunistics, Species Diversity, and Absence of Host Specificity. Journal of Medical Entomology 52 (5), 2015, pp. 1135-1143
  35. ↑ Mireille Harimalala, Soanandrasana Rahelinirina and Romain Girod: Presence of the Oriental Rat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Infesting an Endemic Mammal and Confirmed Plague Circulation in a Forest Area of ​​Madagasca. Journal of Medical Entomology, 2020, S. tjaa026 doi: 10.1093 / jme / tjaa026
  36. ↑ Malala N. Rakotomanga, Steven M. Goodman, Voahangy Soarimalala, Sebastien Boyer and Dmitry Apanaskevich: Les tiques dures (Acari: Ixodidae) ectoparasites de micromammifères non-volants dans la forêt d'Ambohitantely, Madagascar. Malagasy Nature 12, 2017, pp. 59-67
  37. ↑ Lee Couch, Juha Laakkonen, Steven Goodman, and Donald W. Duszynski: Two New Eimerians (Apicomplexa) from Insectivorous Mammals in Madagascar. Journal of Parasitology 97 (2), 2011, pp. 293-296
  38. ↑ Mina K. Khoii, Elizabeth W. Howerth, Roy B. Burns, K. Paige Carmichael and Zoltan S. Gyimesi: Spontaneous Neoplasia in Four Captive Greater Hedgehog Tenrecs (Setifer setosus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 39 (3), 2008, pp. 392-397
  39. ↑ a b c Kathryn M. Everson, Voahangy Soarimalala, Steven M. Goodman and Link E. Olson: 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 (5), 2016, pp. 890-909 doi: 10.1093 / sysbio / syw034
  40. ↑ Link E. Olson and Steven M. Goodman: Phylogeny and biogeography of tenrecs. In: Steven M. Goodman and Jonathan P. Benstead (Eds.): The natural history of Madagascar. University of Chicago Press, 2003, pp. 1235-1242
  41. ^ Matjaž Kuntner, Laura J. May-Collado and Ingi Agnarsson: Phylogeny and conservation priorities of afrotherian mammals (Afrotheria, Mammalia). Zoologica Scripta 40 (1), 2011, pp. 1-15
  42. ^ A b William Charles Linnaeus Martin: On a new genus of insectivorous Mammalia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 6, 1838, pp. 17-19 ( [6] )
  43. ↑ a b c Fredericus Anna Jentink: On the hedgehogs from Madagascar. Notes from the Royal Zoological Museum at Leyden 1879, pp. 137–151 ( [7] )
  44. ↑ George Edward Dobson: A Monograph of the Insectivora, systematic and anatomical. Part I London, 1883, p. 71 ( [8] )
  45. ↑ Étienne de Flacourt: Histoire de la grande isle Madagascar. Paris, 1661, pp. 1–471 (p. 152) ( [9] )
  46. ↑ Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon: Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière. , Tome Douzième. Paris, 1764, pp. 440–441, 450 and plate 57 ( [10] )
  47. ↑ Johann Christian Daniel Schreber: The mammals in illustrations according to nature with descriptions. Third part. Erlangen, 1777, pp. 583–584 ( [11] ) and volume 1, panel 164 ( [12] )
  48. ^ A b Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire: Tanrec. Cuv. Centetes. Illig. et Éricule. Ericulus. Is. Geoff. Magasin de Zoologie Serie 2 1, 1839, pp. 1–37 ( [13] )
  49. ↑ Oldfield Thomas: On some new mammals from Madagascar. Journal of Natural History 17, 1926, pp. 250-252
  50. ↑ Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest: Mammalogie ou description des espèces des Mammifères. Premiere game. Paris, 1820, pp. 1–276 (p. 162) ( [14] )
  51. ^ A b Don E. Wilson and DeeAnn M. Reeder: Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005 ( [15] )
  52. ↑ Ludwig Friedrich von Froriep: Dumeril, Analytical Zoology. From the French with additions. Weimar, 1806, pp. 1–345 (p. 15) ( [16] )
  53. ↑ Constant Dumeril: Zoologie analytique: ou, Méthode naturelle de classification des animaux; rendue plus facile a l'aide de tableaux synoptiques. Paris, 1906, pp. 1–344 (p. 14) ( [17] )
  54. ↑ Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire: Catalog des mammifères du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Paris, 1803, pp. 1–272 (p. 71) ( [18] )
  55. ↑ Georges Cuvier: Leçons d'anatomie Comparée. Tome 1. Paris, 1800, pp. 1–522 (pp. ??) ( [19] )
  56. Jump up ↑ CW Stiles and Samuel F. Stanley: Erinaceus Ecaudatus Designated Type of Setiger 1800. Journal of Mammalogy 11 (2), 1930, p. 226, doi : 10.1093 / jmammal / 11.2.226
  57. ↑ Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire: Notice sur les mammiferes épineux de Madagascar. Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des sciences 5, 1837, pp. 372–374 ( [20] )
  58. ^ P. Mathias and P. Rode: Contribution à l'etude des insectivores. 1. Les insectivores à piquants. Bulletin de la Societété zoologique de France 55, 1930, pp. 429–437 ( [21] )
  59. ^ Gabriel Petit: Insectivora. In: A. Gruvel (Ed.): Faune des colonies Françaises. Tome Quatriène Paris, 1931, pp. 570–575 ( [22] )
  60. ^ A b Henri Heim de Balsac: Insectivores. In: R. Battistini and G. Richard-Vindard (eds.): Biogeography and ecology in Madagascar. The Hague, 1972, pp. 629-660
  61. ↑ Guillaume Grandidier: Un nouveau type de Mammifere insectivore de Madagascar, le Dasogale fontoynonti G. Grand. Bulletin de l'Academie Malgache NS 11, 1928, pp. 84-90
  62. ^ Ross DE MacPhee: Systematic status of Dasogale fontoynonti (Tenrecidae, Insectivora). Journal of Mammalogy 68 (1), 1987, pp. 133-135
  63. ^ A b Kathleen M. Muldoon, Donald D. de Blieux, Elwyn L. Simons, and Prithijit S. Chatrath: The Subfossil Occurrence and Paleoecological Significance of Small Mammals at Ankilitelo Cave, Southwestern Madagascar. Journal of Mammalogy 90 (5), 2009, pp. 1111-1131
  64. ^ A b D. A. Burney, N. Vasey, LR Godfrey, Ramilisonina, WL Jungers, M. Ramarolahy and L. Raharivony: New Findings at Andrahomana Cave, Southeastern Madagascar. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 70 (1), 2008, pp. 13-24
  65. ↑ Steven M. Goodman and William L. Jungers: Extinct Madagascar. Picturing the island's past. University of Chicago Press, 2014, pp. 1–206 (pp. 65–73 and 94–101)
  66. ↑ Julia PG Jones, M. Mijasoa Andriamarovololona and Neal Hockley: The Importance of Taboos and Social Norms to Conservation in Madagascar. Conservation Biology 22 (4), 2008, pp. 976-986

Web links

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