any of a family (Tenrecidae) of small, burrowing insectivores of Madagascar and the Comoro Islands
See tenrec in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(tĕnˈrĕkˌ) also tan·rec(tänˈ-)
noun
Any of various insectivorous mammals of the family Tenrecidae, of Madagascar and adjacent islands, similar to the hedgehog but having a long pointed snout and often no tail.