There are 25 species of tenrec which are mostly found on Madagascar, but some are native to mainland Africa.

The name lesser hedgehog tenrec is misleading, as tenrecs are not related to hedgehogs. However, like hedgehogs, tenrecs have spines covering much of their bodies.

Although the underlying muscular structure is less specialized than a hedgehog’s, tenrecs have well-developed muscles under the skin that allow them to raise and lower their spines.

Its closest relatives are moles and shrews, but it is actually part of the Afrotheria that also contains elephants, aardvarks, dugongs, hyrax, and manatees.