Small Mammal House
Most species in the Zoo's Small Mammal House are no bigger than a breadbox. Here you can gaze at the sprightly grace of the golden lion tamarin, the flexible nose of the ears of the black and rufous giant elephant-shrew, the uncanny armor of the three-banded armadillo, and the fascinating quills of the prehensile-tailed porcupine. Naked mole-rats are a favorite, and tree shrews are often on the go.
The Small Mammal House follows the 
Zoo's building hours schedule.
On June 13, a prehensile-tailed porcupine was born at the Small Mammal House. In a little more than two weeks, it doubled its weight to about 1.8 pounds. It is on exhibit with its mother and older sister. Its father is in another exhibit. Get a good look at a baby prehensile-tailed porcupine.
For the first time in nearly 40 years, a greater Madagascar tenrec was born at the Small Mammal House in April. It is now full grown and can be seen in an exhibit with its parents, near the building's largest enclosures.
In late November, the Small Mammal House welcomed two new species to its exhibits: northern tree shrews and greater Madagascar tenrecs. Northern tree shrews, native to Southeast Asia, build a nest for their young, in addition to their own nest. After giving birth, females nurse their young every two days and essentially ignore them between feedings. Greater Madagascar tenrecs resemble hedgehogs but have a rounder muzzle and a less compact body.
2007 Births
Another Giant Elephant-shrew Born
Soon after the arrival of a pair of black and rufous giant elephant-shrews, the Small Mammal House welcomed the birth of two male elephant-shrews, also known as sengis. This marked a first for the Zoo.
In March, another sengi was born at the Zoo. It emerged from its nest in mid-April.
The males born in February are growing quickly and doing well. They are now in a separate exhibit from their parents. Neither an elephant nor a shrew, these mammals are native to the forest floors of east Africa. more
Native to the mountain and coastal forests of Kenya and Tanzania, these elephant-shrews explore their world nose first. Fewer than ten zoos in North America are home to this species. Come to the Small Mammal House to see our giant elephant-shrews and watch their noses twitch as they probe and sniff their exhibit in search of crickets and other invertebrates.
Meerkat Born in February
In early February 2007, a meerkat was born at the Small Mammal House. It stayed in a burrow for a few weeks and then could be seen aboveground. The exhibit is also home to several adult meerkats. See the mob of African mongooses exploring their exhibit and interacting with each other as they forage for food, play, groom each other, and scurry through tunnels.
Prehensile-tailed Porcupine Born in January
A prehensile-tailed porcupine was born at the Small Mammal House on January 31. It weighed 13.1 ounces at birth and doubled its weight in the next two weeks. By March 21, it had grown to 2.7 pounds.
Zoo scientists analyzed DNA extracted from its quills to determine its sex. We have learned that it's a girl! Visitors can see the baby with its parents and one of their two other offspring: a female born in 2005. A male porcupine was born at the Zoo in 2006, and lives in a separate exhibit.
When these nocturnal vegetarian rodents are born, they are covered in coarse red hair. As they grow to adult size, they gradually lose the red hair and grow stiff, sharp spines, which are modified hairs. 
See photos of a baby prehensile-tailed porcupine.
Learn about how Zoo vets diagnose pregnancy and monitor the development of a baby porcupine during gestation and after birth. 
Spotlight on Vet Medicine
Prairie Animal Exhibit
An exhibit at the Small Mammal House puts black-tailed prairie dogs and a black-footed ferret in close quarters. The animals can explore tunnels built against the glass and aboveground areas decorated with plants and prairie murals. Although the different species may look like they can encounter each other, their tunnels do not intersect—which is good for the prairie dogs, since they are the main prey of these ferrets.
Visitors can learn all about the animals with touch-screen computers.
Where Are the Small Mammals?
Most—but not all—of the Zoo's small mammals live in the Small Mammal House. Several small primates live in Amazonia, and Lemur Island is home to two lemur species. Zoo Map
