Shrew gymnure
| Shrew gymnure | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Family: | Erinaceidae |
| Subfamily: | Galericinae |
| Genus: | Neotetracus Trouessart, 1909 |
| Species: | N. sinensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Neotetracus sinensis Trouessart, 1909 | |
 | |
| Shrew Gymnure range | |
The shrew gymnure or shrew hedgehog (Neotetracus sinensis) is a species of mammal in the family Erinaceidae. It is found in China, Myanmar, and Vietnam. It is the only species in the genus Neotetracus.
Description
The shrew gymnure's coat is soft, dense, and quite long. The back coat color ranges from olive-brown, cinnamon-brown, and a mixed cream/black color. On the underside of the body, the coat color is usually red, grey, or cream-colored. In some shrew gymnures, the sides of the neck and head are tinged with red. A faint black dorsal stripe may also be present. Its tail is lightly covered with tiny hairs. In comparison to other members of its family, the shrew gymnure has a longer tail, shorter snout, and fewer teeth.[1]
Behaviour
Shrew gymnures reside in cool, damp forests between 300 and 2700m altitude. Within their range, shrew gymnures can be found beneath logs and rocks. They also dwell in burrows characterized by moss and fern cover. They are strictly terrestrial, as well as, nocturnal. This mammal's diet consists mostly of invertebrates. Breeding season for the shrew gymnure extends throughout the year, with a probable limit of two litters per year.[1]
References
Sources
- Insectivore Specialist Group (1996). Hylomys sinensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 30 July 2007.