Written by This spiky little uncommon critter can only be found in Madagascar and is called the Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus). The most notable physical feature are the quills. The overall effect is like someone used a mouse as a pin cushion and decided it might look cuter painted to look a bit like a bumblebee. They’re small little guys at only 4.8-6.5 inches (12.2-16.5 cm) in length. The tenrec is built low and cool for sniffing around on the ground with its short limbs and long snout.
When in danger, barbed quills on the back of its neck point forward, and then it rushes its attacker giving them a rather violent session of involuntary facial acupuncture. The unbarbed quills on the back vibrate to produce a faint clattering sound used to communicate with family members. This type of “talking” is called stridulation, like when crickets rub their legs together, but the lowland streaked tenrec is the first mammal to use this method. And there’s a lot of chatter in their households as they have large families, which can consist of up to 15 members. When not going out, they like to all stay home and cuddle as a group.
The streaked tenrec is active during day and night, feeding primarily on insects. It likes to search the ground while stomping its feet to get things underneath the dirt to squirm and make themselves known. The long snoot works well for poking into the ground and under leaves in search of their creepy crawly cuisine. Though some species of Tenrec’s live in the water, and have been known to dine on small fish and frogs. Certainly an upgrade from wriggly worms.
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Azo Yellow, Azo Orange, Dioxazine Purple, Pyrrol Red, Cobalt Teal, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
Cute for a prickly beggar!! Nice doodlewash Charlie!
Yeah…don’t get super close to this guy though! He looks more cuddly than he actually is! Lol Thanks so much, Susan! 😃💕
Extraordinary. Your creatures are getting curiouser and curiouser! I’m having trouble believing some of them which only goes to show that fact is stranger than fiction and a lot more interesting. This is a great series Charlie!
Thanks so much!! 😃😃Fact is far stranger than fiction I’m learning this month! Hehe… It’s really a curious world we live in.
Wow! What a prickly pear sort of dude! 😜 Awesome doodlewash Charlie! 😃🎨👍💕
Thanks Jill! 😃💕haha! I love that description!! I think they should have named him “Prickly Pear Dude”… That would have been amazing!!
Madagascar has/had the weirdest critters! I hope this psychedelic porcupine is not endangered at least. 🙂 It’s cute (though I know you made it that way)! <3
Thanks Teresa! 😃💕 Luckily this little guy is listed as Least Concern… and he also on the menu in some places I think. Well…places in Madagascar at least. But still…yikes on that!
Um, yay? 😆
Charlie, are you making these creatures up? So bizarre. Guess I don’t get around much. Lol
What?!! You’ve never been to Madagascar?! Lol… Neither have I. It’s fun to “visit” these creatures in doodlewashes at least though!
It sure is fun!
Must be some interesting cuddles in that house! Adorable. (K)
Thanks Kerfe! 😃💕Yeah, right? I can’t imagine what would happen if they all got mad at each other mid-cuddle!
Just stay out of it I think!
What a sweet face, his prickly coat is beautiful. I love his toes. Thanks Charlie for a fun new character.
Thanks Sharon!! 😃💕Yeah…I really needed to get closer to adorable after that batfish before it. Sort of a palette cleanser, this one! Lol
Well, he’s a distinctive fellow! The quills remind me of a porcupine. I too got the bumblebee vibe, though to me it initially looked as if someone had overindulged on hair gel for the little insect… and obviously removed its wings, but never mind about that. Whatever the story, he’s a charming character and this has been another fun lurch into the wilderness with Charlie O’Attenborough!
Thanks Jacob!! 😃Haha…love my new name! Yeah…I think he’s more bumblebee in real, but I couldn’t quite get it across as well when I was struggling with those darn spikes. Those are rough to doodlewash! Lol It was just a big mess when I started. I kept showing it to Philippe saying, “can you see an animal yet?!” 😊hehe
Interesting “cuddly” critter. The fun things we learn in art!
Hehe…yeah…wouldn’t want to cuddle them, but it’s fun to learn about them! Thanks Rob! 😃
Good one, Charlie! I swear your blog is like reading national Geographic! I googled him and you’ve got him down pat
Hehe! Thanks so much!! 😃💕Though I doubt National Geographic would describe things like I do. At least I’m never heard them use a term like “drag lips” to describe a fish. Lol 😊
Wonderful, Charlie! I love how you’ve painted the quills on this chap.
Those were rough!! Hehe…so much more difficult to doodlewash than I expected. 😊 Glad you liked them Michael!!! 😃
A spikey bee mouse….oh he is cute, but I think that cuddling up to him could be a painful experience. A new one for me, this little critter.
Yes!! He should be holding a Do Not Cuddle Me sign! Hehe… Thanks Rebecca!! 💕
Spikey yes but somehow I can’t help finding it cute. Nicely done!
Hehe…thanks! 😃💕Yeah…best observed from a distance, but they are sort of cute really!
They all manage to be cute! I could see this one in Vegas on the Strip, flashing its cool black and yellow colors at us! Nice job with these creatures, Bro!
Hehe…not THAT would be a sight to see. I think they do quite a Vegas act with several of these animals. Lol Thanks so much Sis!! 😃💕
I agree with Teresa, Madagascar is a great place to find such unique critters! This guy is so cool and weird! Impressive doodlewash Charlie!
I’m loving this cool and weird journey…kind of sorry to see it end in a week! Thanks so much Cathe!! 😃💕
i’m glad they like to cuddle with each other because it would be hard for anyone else to want to cuddle with them 🙂 – cute little bugger!
Thanks Jodi! 😃💕 Lol… yeah… I’m thinking that you have to actually be another tenrec to enjoy a cuddle from one of these guys!
Damn! This is amazing! I love things like this. Looks beautiful 🙂
Why thank you! Glad you liked this doodlewash! 😃
How adorable! I’m just amazed by these unusual creatures you’ve been featuring. It’s like the ultimate experiment in genetics and evolution gone amuck! Love the blue and yellow together, so very striking and love your description! Lol
Thanks Kari! 😃💕They’re pretty wild aren’t they? I never heard of many of these creatures before. I liked this one though… it was kind of cute!
Cuddling with a tenrec – that ought to spice up the love life. Or should I say, SPIKE up the love life?
Nicely painted, as always.
haha! Love it! Needs to be on a t-shirt! Thanks so much Sharon! 😃💕
Madagascar
Is a place so far
But that art
Would make whatever that is
Quite a star 🙂
hehe… Thanks for that poem Kamus! Glad you liked this! 😃
When you’ve got a soft tummy
and aren’t very tall
only 3 toes
and a whiskered nose
it’s best to be prickly
to exist at all.
hehe… I can actually see this pome appearing on the wall of a tenrec’s home! Fun!
Great doodlewash – and your descriptions are priceless! Love it! 😀
Thanks so much Akire!! hehe… glad you liked this! 😃💕
Adorable painting, such a cute subject, and their family sounds wonderful…cuddlers! Thank you for sharing a delightful beauty.
Yeah…gotta love a little creature who likes to cuddle! Cuddling is the best! Hehe… thanks Haunani!! 😃💕
Cool little animal I hadn’t been aware of. The spikes you’ve drawn make me want to keep my distance!
hehe… yeah… I loved weird animal month! 😃💕