Family of the Week: The Metazoic Tenrecs
The Metazoic family of tenrecs is basically an offshoot of today's tenrec family. Only I have renamed it Centetidae. The modern family of tenrecs goes to 20 million years in the Metazoic, and then this family takes over. They are basically small, and only a few have spines, like hedgehogs. All species have tails, but the length varies from one species to another. The feet are like those of modern tenrecs and are equipped with claws that are sharp and curved. One species even has retractable claws, which they use for climbing trees. These animals are insectivores, but prey up to the size of small rodents can be taken. Most species are diurnal, but there are some that retains their ancient nocturnal habits. Habitat varies by species. Some live in burrows, some even live in caves. Some are tree dwellers, and some inhabit watery areas. They are equipped with sharp teeth, which in some cases can be used for defense. But most of the time, they are simply quick movers in the underbrush. Some species have larger eyes than others in proportion to their body size. The ears are small and round, and in most cases lies very close to their heads. All tenrecs are solitary animals except during the breeding season. Unlike today, no species of tenrec in the Metazoic is found outside of Madagascar.
The largest, and perhaps the most remarkable species, are in the genus Scelestus. These animals are very much unlike other tenrecs. They have some of the largest species in the family, being quite bigger than an average house cat. These tenrecs have no spines, although they do have some whisker-like hairs on the back. The tail is long, but not prehensile. The ears are triangular-shaped and very mobile, unlike other tenrecs in this age. The eyes are large and round, and face foreward, more like modern primates. The claws are retractable, like a cat's claws, and are used in climbing trees. Unlike other tenrecs, these animals spend almost all their lives in trees, rather than on the ground. Their purpose? To find grubs and other tree-dwelling insects. Formerly, their role was played by the Aye-aye, of which none survives the great extinction event that separates the age of man from the Metazoic. Their tail acts as a balancing rod as these animals scamper quickly through the branches. These animals have a mixed diet of insects, small animals, eggs, and fruits. Though any plant matter is simply a supplement to their diet, their daily intake consists mostly of insects and grubs.
Another amazing metazoic tenrec is Aletogale. This is a small tenrec, about the size of a rat, with a long, flat tail and webbed feet. They are fully aquatic. They have large eyes that enables them to see in murky water, the fingers on the front flippers are long, and tipped with sharp claws. This enables them to grasp prey such as shrimp. The ears are almost non-existent externally. The fur is soft and designed to trap air pockets. The nostrils are capable of opening and closing as the animal rises and descends. They are excellent swimmers, and capable of chasing small fish underwater. Also a part of their diet is aquatic insects, crabs and mollusks. Especially favored is a species of Metazoic aquatic worm that fastens it's self to rocks on the river floor, and feeds on microscopic creatures by way of tentacles that they spread out of their heads. These are a delicasy for these tenrecs. These animals spend very little time out of the water, except when feeding. The time they do spend out of the water, they are very cautious and alert, and usually prefer to hide in the underbrush. At night, these animals retire to an underground burrow, of which the enterance is accessed underwater.
The smallest species of tenrec in the Metazoic is Nebulatus, which is the size of a small mouse. They are also cave dwellers. Almost all their lives is spent in caves. They have sharp, curved claws for climbing the cave walls after insects and arachnids. The rear legs are slightly longer than the forelegs for leaping. The eyes are rather small, but the eyesight is still rather good. Not best though. They rely more on hearing and their sense of smell in finding prey. All in all, this is a rather mouselike tenrec. They have no spines or any other protection other than the darkness of their home. They almost never leave the caves.
Another remarkable tenrec in the Metazoic is Armatura. This tenrec has no spines, no harsh fur or irritating hairs, instead, they have armor. Not too different than what is seen in armadillos. But the armor is not visible externally, as it is under a layer of flesh and fur. These animals do not roll into a ball when threatened like armadillos do. But the armor they do have is designed to handle the pressure of all but the largest predator in their range. This is a rather large tenrec, slightly smaller than a house cat. They are not quick runners like most other tenrecs are, and they do not swim very well, nor climb trees. They rely almost entirely on their armor plates for protection. At night, they do retreat to underground burrows. Their eyes are larger than those of modern tenrecs, in proportion to their body size. The tail is long, and largely unarmored. Though it is scaly like the tail of a rat, and hairless.
The diet of most tenrecs consist mostly of insects. They need not eat every few hours like shrews, and find their prey either by digging in the ground, or pulling bark from fallen trees, or even searching in piles of dung laid down by larger animals for beetles. Tenrecs however are not without their own breed of enemies. Mongooses are probably their worst threats of all, as are predatory bats and birds. Snakes will also take their toll, and crocodiles will also feed on them. Ground dwelling tenrecs often live side-by-side with some ground dwelling lemurs. Centetes is a medium-sized, rabbit-like tenrec, that often shares underground burrows with the ground-dwelling, burrowing Indriid lemur, Geopropithecus. The tenrec relies on the more alert lemur, whose hearing is better than that of the tenrec's, for protection against predators. When alarmed, the lemur has a distinctive sneezing-type call that all inhabitants of their burrow quickly respond to, lemur and tenrec alike.
The largest, and perhaps the most remarkable species, are in the genus Scelestus. These animals are very much unlike other tenrecs. They have some of the largest species in the family, being quite bigger than an average house cat. These tenrecs have no spines, although they do have some whisker-like hairs on the back. The tail is long, but not prehensile. The ears are triangular-shaped and very mobile, unlike other tenrecs in this age. The eyes are large and round, and face foreward, more like modern primates. The claws are retractable, like a cat's claws, and are used in climbing trees. Unlike other tenrecs, these animals spend almost all their lives in trees, rather than on the ground. Their purpose? To find grubs and other tree-dwelling insects. Formerly, their role was played by the Aye-aye, of which none survives the great extinction event that separates the age of man from the Metazoic. Their tail acts as a balancing rod as these animals scamper quickly through the branches. These animals have a mixed diet of insects, small animals, eggs, and fruits. Though any plant matter is simply a supplement to their diet, their daily intake consists mostly of insects and grubs.
Another amazing metazoic tenrec is Aletogale. This is a small tenrec, about the size of a rat, with a long, flat tail and webbed feet. They are fully aquatic. They have large eyes that enables them to see in murky water, the fingers on the front flippers are long, and tipped with sharp claws. This enables them to grasp prey such as shrimp. The ears are almost non-existent externally. The fur is soft and designed to trap air pockets. The nostrils are capable of opening and closing as the animal rises and descends. They are excellent swimmers, and capable of chasing small fish underwater. Also a part of their diet is aquatic insects, crabs and mollusks. Especially favored is a species of Metazoic aquatic worm that fastens it's self to rocks on the river floor, and feeds on microscopic creatures by way of tentacles that they spread out of their heads. These are a delicasy for these tenrecs. These animals spend very little time out of the water, except when feeding. The time they do spend out of the water, they are very cautious and alert, and usually prefer to hide in the underbrush. At night, these animals retire to an underground burrow, of which the enterance is accessed underwater.
The smallest species of tenrec in the Metazoic is Nebulatus, which is the size of a small mouse. They are also cave dwellers. Almost all their lives is spent in caves. They have sharp, curved claws for climbing the cave walls after insects and arachnids. The rear legs are slightly longer than the forelegs for leaping. The eyes are rather small, but the eyesight is still rather good. Not best though. They rely more on hearing and their sense of smell in finding prey. All in all, this is a rather mouselike tenrec. They have no spines or any other protection other than the darkness of their home. They almost never leave the caves.
Another remarkable tenrec in the Metazoic is Armatura. This tenrec has no spines, no harsh fur or irritating hairs, instead, they have armor. Not too different than what is seen in armadillos. But the armor is not visible externally, as it is under a layer of flesh and fur. These animals do not roll into a ball when threatened like armadillos do. But the armor they do have is designed to handle the pressure of all but the largest predator in their range. This is a rather large tenrec, slightly smaller than a house cat. They are not quick runners like most other tenrecs are, and they do not swim very well, nor climb trees. They rely almost entirely on their armor plates for protection. At night, they do retreat to underground burrows. Their eyes are larger than those of modern tenrecs, in proportion to their body size. The tail is long, and largely unarmored. Though it is scaly like the tail of a rat, and hairless.
The diet of most tenrecs consist mostly of insects. They need not eat every few hours like shrews, and find their prey either by digging in the ground, or pulling bark from fallen trees, or even searching in piles of dung laid down by larger animals for beetles. Tenrecs however are not without their own breed of enemies. Mongooses are probably their worst threats of all, as are predatory bats and birds. Snakes will also take their toll, and crocodiles will also feed on them. Ground dwelling tenrecs often live side-by-side with some ground dwelling lemurs. Centetes is a medium-sized, rabbit-like tenrec, that often shares underground burrows with the ground-dwelling, burrowing Indriid lemur, Geopropithecus. The tenrec relies on the more alert lemur, whose hearing is better than that of the tenrec's, for protection against predators. When alarmed, the lemur has a distinctive sneezing-type call that all inhabitants of their burrow quickly respond to, lemur and tenrec alike.
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