[ noun ] small often spiny insectivorous mammal of Madagascar; resembles a hedgehog <noun.animal>
Tenrec \Ten"rec\, n. [From the native name: cf. F. tanrac, tanrec, tandrec.] (Zo["o]l.) A small insectivore ({Centetes ecaudatus}), native of Madagascar, but introduced also into the islands of Bourbon and Mauritius; -- called also {tanrec}. The name is applied to other allied genera. See {Tendrac}.
Tendrac \Ten"drac\, n. [See {Tenrec}.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of small insectivores of the family {Centetid[ae]}, belonging to {Ericulus}, {Echinope}, and related genera, native of Madagascar. They are more or less spinose and resemble the hedgehog in habits. The rice tendrac ({Oryzorictes hora}) is very injurious to rice crops. Some of the species are called also {tenrec}.