Mole-like rice tenrec

The mole-like rice tenrec (Oryzorictes hova), also known as the fossorial tenrec or hova rice tenrec, is a species of mammal in the tenrec family. Like all other tenrecs, it is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist forests, swamps, freshwater lakes, and irrigated or seasonally flooded agricultural land.^[2]

Mole-like rice tenrec[1]
in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Afrosoricida
Suborder:	Tenrecomorpha
Family:	Tenrecidae
Genus:	Oryzorictes
Species:	O. hova
Binomial name
Oryzorictes hova A. Grandidier, 1870
Mole-like rice tenrec range
Synonyms
Oryzorictes talpoides G. Grandidier & Petit, 1930

Biology

Oryzorictes hova eats invertebrates like worms, and they spend some of their time above ground but mostly stay underground. They can also be found in rice fields.^[3] Not much is known about their mating or reproduction, but the most offspring they have is 4.^[4]

Due to allopatric speciation, the rice tenrec has been separated into 3 distinct populations across Madagascar. Each of these populations could be considered their own distinct species, but additional data is required for a formal description of the species.^[5]