Short-tailed gymnure

The short-tailed gymnure (Hylomys suillus) is a small mammal from the family of the Erinaceidae. The scientific name of the species is first published by Salomon Müller in 1840.

Short-tailed gymnure
Hylomys suillus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Erinaceidae
Genus: Hylomys
Species:
H. suillus[2]
Binomial name
Hylomys suillus[2]
Short-tailed gymnure range

Description

The upperparts of the short-tailed gymnure are reddish brown to dark brown, with a grey tinge. The underparts are light grey, with white-tipped hairs. It resembles a large shrew, with a long snout and a very short hairless tail. It also has rounded, leathery ears.[3] The head and body length is 12–14 cm (4.7–5.5 in) and the tail length measures 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in)[4]

Habits and habitat

This mammal is active both day and night. The species lives in hill and montane forests up to 3,000m, but sometimes in humid lowland forests. It feeds mainly on insects on the ground but it also takes some fruit sometimes. They normally don't live any longer than 2 years.[4]

Distribution

The species lives mainly in Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), but it is also found in China.[4]

References

  1. Chiozza, F. (2016). "Hylomys suillus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T40611A115175083.
  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. 218. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. Feldhamer, George; et al. (2015). Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, Ecology (fourth ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 285. ISBN 978-1-4214-1588-8.
  4. Shepherd, Chris R.; Shepherd, Loretta Ann (2012). A Naturalist's Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia. Wiltshire: John BeauFoy Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-906780-71-5.
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