Gymnure
Encyclopedia
The gymnure, also called a hairy hedgehog or moonrat, is a type of mammal
belonging to the subfamily Galericinae, in the family Erinaceidae
and the order Erinaceomorpha. Although more closely related to hedgehog
s, they look like very large rat
s.
, including Vietnam
, Sumatra
, China
and the Malay Peninsula
.
Although its closest relative is the hedgehog
, full grown specimens more closely resemble large rat
s, or the North American Virginia Opossum
(Didelphis virginianis), with which it shares similar habits and ecological niches (an example of parallel evolution
).
The gymnure's body plan is believed to resemble that of the earliest mammals, with a large toothy head about 1/3 the length of the total body, a naked furless tail for balance and thermoregulatory
purposes, and a plantigrade
stance.
They also have an outstanding sense of smell, and tactile response in the snout region.
. They are nocturnal or crepuscular
: they come out to forage at twilight or in the night to search the forest floor, using smell to find the animals that they eat. Gymnures eat various arthropods, mice
, small reptile
s and amphibians, with occasional fruit and fungi.
Gymnures keep territories, and individuals are solitary except when breeding. Gymnures have a very strong scent, typically described as a rancid garlic
or onion
smell, which is produced by its territory-marking scent glands. Several creatures similar in form and niche, such as the opossum and solenodon smell similar to the gymnure.
to living erinaceids are uncertain.
There are eight species in five genera:
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
belonging to the subfamily Galericinae, in the family Erinaceidae
Erinaceidae
Erinaceidae is the only living family in the order Erinaceomorpha, which has recently been subsumed with Soricomorpha into the order Eulipotyphla...
and the order Erinaceomorpha. Although more closely related to hedgehog
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
s, they look like very large rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s.
Distribution and appearance
Gymnures inhabit moist jungle terrain in various locales of Southeast AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, including Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and the Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
.
Although its closest relative is the hedgehog
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
, full grown specimens more closely resemble large rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s, or the North American Virginia Opossum
Virginia Opossum
The Virginia opossum , commonly known as the North American opossum or tlacuache in Mexico, is the only marsupial found in North America north of Mexico. A solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat, and thus the largest opossum, it is a successful opportunist...
(Didelphis virginianis), with which it shares similar habits and ecological niches (an example of parallel evolution
Parallel evolution
Parallel evolution is the development of a similar trait in related, but distinct, species descending from the same ancestor, but from different clades.-Parallel vs...
).
The gymnure's body plan is believed to resemble that of the earliest mammals, with a large toothy head about 1/3 the length of the total body, a naked furless tail for balance and thermoregulatory
Thermoregulation
Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is very different...
purposes, and a plantigrade
Plantigrade
right|151px|thumb|Human skeleton, showing plantigrade habitIn terrestrial animals, plantigrade locomotion means walking with the podials and metatarsals flat on the ground. It is one of three forms of locomotion adopted by mammals...
stance.
They also have an outstanding sense of smell, and tactile response in the snout region.
Way of life
Gymnures are primarily carnivorousCarnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
. They are nocturnal or crepuscular
Crepuscular
Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight, that is during dawn and dusk. The word is derived from the Latin word crepusculum, meaning "twilight." Crepuscular is, thus, in contrast with diurnal and nocturnal behavior. Crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright...
: they come out to forage at twilight or in the night to search the forest floor, using smell to find the animals that they eat. Gymnures eat various arthropods, mice
Mouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
, small reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s and amphibians, with occasional fruit and fungi.
Gymnures keep territories, and individuals are solitary except when breeding. Gymnures have a very strong scent, typically described as a rancid garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
or onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
smell, which is produced by its territory-marking scent glands. Several creatures similar in form and niche, such as the opossum and solenodon smell similar to the gymnure.
Classification
This subfamily has alternately been called Echinosoricinae, Galericinae, and Hylomyinae. Some researchers prefer Hylomyinae because the specific relationships of the extinct genus GalerixGalerix
Galerix is a prehistoric genus of gymnures. Fossils of these hedgehog-like creatures are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia.-Taxonomy:Nine species are considered as members of the genus:*Galerix aurelianensis*Galerix exilis...
to living erinaceids are uncertain.
There are eight species in five genera:
- Genus DeinogalerixDeinogalerixDeinogalerix , was a genus of the order Erinaceomorpha, which lived in Italy in the Late Miocene. The genus was apparently endemic to what was then Gargano Island, today's Gargano peninsula...
(Extinct) - Genus Echinosorex
- MoonratMoonratThe moonrat is a species of mammal in the Erinaceidae family. It is the only species in the genus Echinosorex. The species name is sometimes given as E. gymnurus, but this is incorrect. There are two subspecies: E. g. gymnura is found in Sumatra and on the Malay Peninsula; E. g...
(Echinosorex gymnura)
- Moonrat
- Genus HylomysHylomysHylomys is a small genus of the family Erinaceidae. Hylomys species, like all species in the subfamily Galericinae, are known as gymnures or moonrats...
- Hylomys megalotis (Large-eared Gymnure)
- Hylomys parvus (Dwarf GymnureDwarf GymnureThe Dwarf Gymnure is a gymnure found only at Mount Kerinci, Sumatra, Indonesia. It is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a critically endangered species due to a restricted range....
) - Hylomys suillus (Lesser Gymnure or Lesser Moonrat)
- Genus Neohylomys
- Neohylomys hainanensis (Hainan GymnureHainan GymnureThe Hainan Gymnure or Hainan Moonrat is a species of mammal in the Erinaceidae family. It is endemic to China. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.It is in the monotypic genus Neohylomys....
or Hainan Moonrat)
- Neohylomys hainanensis (Hainan Gymnure
- Genus Neotetracus
- Neotetracus sinensis (Shrew GymnureShrew GymnureThe Shrew Gymnure or Shrew Hedgehog is a species of mammal in the Erinaceidae family. It is found in China, Myanmar, and Vietnam.It is the only species in the genus Neotetracus.-Source:...
)
- Neotetracus sinensis (Shrew Gymnure
- Genus PodogymnuraPodogymnuraPodogymnura is a genus of mammal in the Erinaceidae family.It contains the following species:* Dinagat Moonrat * Mindanao Gymnure...
- Podogymnura aureospinula (Dinagat GymnureDinagat GymnureThe Dinagat Gymnure is a species of mammal in the Erinaceidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
or Dinagat Moonrat) - Podogymnura truei (Mindanao GymnureMindanao GymnureThe Mindanao Gymnure or Mindanao Moonrat is a species of mammal in the Erinaceidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss....
or Mindanao Moonrat)
- Podogymnura aureospinula (Dinagat Gymnure
External links
- Image of the Dwarf Gymnure - Hylomys parvus
