Lowland Streaked Tenrec: The Mammal That Makes Sound With Its Quills

The lowland streaked tenrec looks like something assembled from several different animals: a tiny mammal with bold yellow-and-black stripes, a coat of sharp spines, and a face that can make it look vaguely hedgehog-like.

But its appearance is only part of the story.

Hidden among the spines on its back is a specialized sound-producing structure. By rapidly rubbing particular quills together, the animal can generate high-frequency sounds used in communication.

That makes the lowland streaked tenrec one of the most unusual examples of mammalian communication known to science.

A Mammal That Uses Its Quills to Make Sound

The most remarkable feature of the lowland streaked tenrec may not be its spiny coat at all.

Instead, it is the way some of those spines are used.

Researchers have identified a specialized group of quills on the animal's back that forms part of a sound-producing structure. When the quills are rapidly rubbed against one another, they vibrate and generate high-frequency sound.

A 2010 study described an arrangement of approximately 15 or 16 light-brown quills associated with specialized muscles underneath the skin. The researchers called the underlying structure the quill vibrator disc, or QVD.

The study concluded that this specialized muscular system contributes to the rapid vibration of the quills and the production of sound for communication.

Why Humans Usually Cannot Hear It

The sounds produced by the specialized quills are very high in frequency. The Natural History Museum describes them as ultrasonic, meaning they extend beyond the normal range of human hearing.

That does not mean the sound is useless or insignificant. In the dense vegetation of Madagascar's forests, communication through high-frequency sound may help tenrecs maintain contact with one another when visibility is limited.

Researchers have particularly considered communication between mothers and young as one possible function of the system.

Animal Diversity Web likewise describes the quill-generated sounds as a possible communication mechanism among members of foraging groups, while noting that the precise functions of the different sounds are not completely settled.

This distinction matters: scientists have strong evidence that the quills produce sound, but the exact meaning and full range of uses of those sounds are still being studied.

It Is Not Just One Set of Spines

The lowland streaked tenrec's body is covered with different types of spines and quills, and not all of them perform the same job.

Many of its spines are associated with defense. When disturbed, the animal can raise its spines and make itself difficult for a predator to attack.

Animal Diversity Web describes defensive reactions that can include erecting the spines, stamping the forefeet and rushing toward a disturbance.

The specialized quills involved in sound production are different in function. Instead of serving primarily as a physical barrier against predators, they form part of a biological sound-producing system.

So the tenrec's spiny coat is not simply armor. Some of its specialized structures have been incorporated into communication.

What Does the Lowland Streaked Tenrec Eat?

Despite its unusual appearance, the lowland streaked tenrec has a relatively straightforward diet.

It is strongly associated with eating earthworms and is described as almost exclusively vermivorous, meaning worm-eating. Other terrestrial invertebrates can also be consumed.

Its feeding behavior is closely tied to life on the forest floor. The animal searches through its environment for prey while relying on its senses and physical adaptations to locate food.

Animal Diversity Web also notes that streaked tenrecs may stamp their forefeet on the ground, a behavior that can increase earthworm activity and potentially make prey easier to locate.

A Small Mammal Built for the Forest Floor

Lowland streaked tenrecs are found in Madagascar, particularly in tropical rainforest habitats on the eastern side of the island.

They are terrestrial and can use burrows for shelter and protection. Some burrows may be occupied by more than one individual, with Animal Diversity Web reporting that lowland streaked tenrec burrows can contain as many as 23 individuals during the breeding season.

The species is mainly active during the day, unlike many small mammals that rely heavily on nighttime activity.

Its combination of burrowing behavior, defensive spines and specialized communication makes sense in a forest environment where animals may need to move and communicate through dense vegetation close to the ground.

Why Does It Look Like a Hedgehog?

One of the easiest mistakes to make when seeing a lowland streaked tenrec is to assume that it is a type of hedgehog.

It is not.

Tenrecs belong to the Afrotheria lineage and are classified in the order Afrosoricida. Hedgehogs belong to the family Erinaceidae within the order Eulipotyphla.

The resemblance is a classic example of convergent evolution: unrelated animals can independently develop similar physical features when they face similar ecological challenges.

Spines are useful protection for a small animal that spends time on the ground, so it is not surprising that both tenrecs and hedgehogs evolved spiny bodies despite their distant evolutionary relationship.

Feature	Lowland Streaked Tenrec	True Hedgehog
Scientific group	Tenrecidae	Erinaceidae
Order	Afrosoricida	Eulipotyphla
Native range	Madagascar	Africa, Europe and Asia depending on species
Spines	Used in defense; specialized quills also produce sound	Primarily defensive
Relationship	Tenrec	Hedgehog

The resemblance is therefore superficial rather than evidence that the two animals are close relatives.

The Bright Stripes Are Still Something of a Mystery

The lowland streaked tenrec is also unusually conspicuous for a small animal living among forest vegetation.

Its body has bold black-and-yellow striping, giving it a distinctive appearance that can make it look almost warning-colored.

Scientists have considered whether the striking pattern could have a defensive function. However, the Natural History Museum notes that the exact evolutionary reason for the coloration is not certain.

It is therefore better to describe the pattern as a striking feature rather than claim that it definitely evolved as warning coloration.

Scientists Know the Sound Is Real — But Not Everything About It

The unusual communication system has been studied for decades, but some questions remain open.

We know that specialized quills can vibrate and produce sound. We also know that the structure beneath them contains specialized musculature capable of producing the rapid movements required for quill vibration.

What is less certain is exactly what every sound means in the animal's social life.

Animal Diversity Web notes that tongue clicking has also been observed and has been proposed as a possible form of echolocation, but further research is needed to establish whether true echolocation occurs.

That is an important scientific distinction. A behavior can be documented while its biological function remains uncertain.

Why the Lowland Streaked Tenrec Matters

The lowland streaked tenrec is a reminder that mammalian evolution has produced far more variety than the familiar mammals around us might suggest.

Communication in mammals is often associated with vocal cords, calls, scent or body language. The streaked tenrec demonstrates another possibility: specialized body structures can become part of a sound-producing system.

Its quill vibrator is especially interesting because the animal has effectively turned part of its unusual skin anatomy into a communication tool.

At the same time, its story illustrates why scientists have to be careful with extraordinary animal claims. The evidence supports quill-based sound production, but questions about exactly what those sounds communicate are more complicated.

That combination of a remarkable confirmed adaptation and unanswered scientific questions is what makes the lowland streaked tenrec such a fascinating animal.

Is the Lowland Streaked Tenrec a Hedgehog?

No. The lowland streaked tenrec and true hedgehogs are different mammals from separate evolutionary lineages. Their similar spiny appearance is an example of convergent evolution.

Can Humans Hear the Sounds Made by Its Quills?

Generally, no. The quill-generated sounds described by researchers are high-frequency or ultrasonic, beyond the normal range of human hearing.

What Does the Lowland Streaked Tenrec Eat?

Its diet is dominated by earthworms and other terrestrial invertebrates. It is described as strongly vermivorous, meaning that worms are its primary food.

Takeaway

The lowland streaked tenrec is far more than a strange-looking spiny mammal from Madagascar. Its specialized quills can vibrate to produce high-frequency sounds, giving this tiny animal an unusual way to communicate.

Its defensive spines, burrowing lifestyle, earthworm-based diet and specialized sound-producing system show how evolution can turn seemingly ordinary body structures into surprisingly sophisticated adaptations.

And perhaps the strangest part is that the animal can make these sounds without us even being able to hear them.

More From The Pader

• Rare & Unusual Animals — Explore more of the world's unusual wildlife and remarkable species.
• Remarkable Animal Behavior — Discover unusual behaviors that reveal how animals communicate, survive and interact.
• Amazing Animal Stories: Remarkable Animals and the Stories Behind Them — The main Animal Stories pillar at The Pader.
• How Animals Sense the World: Animal Senses — A broader look at the extraordinary sensory abilities of animals.
• How Spiders Detect Vibrations Through Their Webs — Another example of how animals use vibrations to gather information about their surroundings.
• How Animals Use Smell to Find Food and Avoid Danger — Explore another major form of animal communication and perception.

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