Bare-bellied hedgehog

The bare-bellied hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris), also known as the Madras hedgehog, is a species of hedgehog that is endemic to dry arid regions and scrubby jungles in southeastern India.[2] As it was believed to be rare, it was formerly listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. It is now known to be locally common in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, resulting in its new listing as a species of Least Concern.[1]

Bare-bellied hedgehog
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Erinaceidae
Genus: Paraechinus
Species:
P. nudiventris
Binomial name
Paraechinus nudiventris
(Horsfield, 1851)
Distribution of bare-bellied hedgehog[1]

It was also found in Kottayam and Palakkad districts of Kerala.

Characteristics

The organism has a head to body length 14–25 cm with a short tail of 1–3 cm. It weighs 310-435 g. The bare-bellied hedgehog reaches sexual maturity in about 10 months and gives birth to 4-6 young per litter.

References
  1. Chakraborty, S.; Srinivasulu, C. & Molur, S. (2008). "Paraechinus nudiventris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2010.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Hutterer, R. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 217. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.

Cheruvat, Dinesan; Radhakrishnan, C. and Muhamed Jafer Palot. 2006. Handbook on Mammals of Kerala : 1-154. (Published by the Director, ZooL Surv. India, Kolkata)

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