Think that’s a hedgehog? Think again. Despite its name and appearance, the lesser Madagascar hedgehog tenrec (Echinop... by @amnh

Published by @amnh on Mar 17, 2026.

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A photo of a lesser Madagascar hedgehog tenrec enrolled into a ball. The animal is grayish in color, with white spikes on its back and a long snout.

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This post stands out with 1 linked topics, 1 media item(s), and 2 highlighted comments. It sits inside @amnh's page, with 8 related posts to open next and 1870 engagement points. Primary linked tags: #didyouknow.

Caption

Think that’s a hedgehog? Think again. Despite its name and appearance, the lesser Madagascar hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi) is more closely related to elephants and manatees than it is to true hedgehogs. Weighing up to 7 oz (0.2 kg), this small mammal inhabits western Madagascar, where it feeds on insects, small vertebrates, and the occasional fruit. Like a hedgehog, it can roll up into a ball to defend itself from foes. If a hungry predator dares to take a bite, it might end up with a mouth full of spikes! Photo: Nigel Voaden, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist #wildlife #biodiversity #animals #didyouknow

Top comments

@raj.adest 0 likes Mar 17, 2026

❤️ Pretty sure it's a Pokemon - Prickly Pickleball