Za`lamb´do`dont
| a. | 1. | (Zool.) Of or pertaining to a tribe (Zalambdodonta) of Insectivora in which the molar teeth have but one V-shaped ridge. |
| n. | 1. | One of the Zalambdodonta. The tenrec, solenodon, and golden moles are examples. |
Tenrecs are the bomb. Why did I never learn about these as a kid? Punk rock hair, detachable spines, earthworm eating balls of adorableness - what's not to love? Seriously.
I came across a fact about tenrecs having 32 nipples (I can't find a source that corroborates this, though) and the next thing I know I'm reading scientific papers about their ultrasonic communication methods. Turns out that the Lowland tenrec has 7-16 specialized spines on their lower back, with an underlying musculature that allows them to rub the spines together. It has been hypothesized that this is how they communicate about good foraging spots or the location of predators, but no one really knows. I love the fact that there are so many things we as humans still don't know about the world around us.
References:
Animal Diversity Web, Lowland Tenrec. Accessed 7/23/2018. http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hemicentetes_semispinosus/
Cal Photos, Hemicentetes semispinosus; Lowland Streaked Tenrec. Accessed 7/23/2018
https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0024+3291+2008+0063
Endo, H., Koyabu, D., Kimura, J., Rakotondraparany, F., Matsui, A., Yonezawa, T., ... & Hasegawa, M. (2010). A quill vibrating mechanism for a sounding apparatus in the streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus). Zoological science, 27(5), 427-432.
Webster's 1913 dictionary. Accessed 7/23/2018
http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/zalambdodont
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