Actual long-eared hedgehog
| Actual long-eared hedgehog | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Long-eared hedgehog ( Hemiechinus auritus ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Hemiechinus auritus | ||||||||||||
| ( SG Gmelin , 1770) |
The real long-eared hedgehog ( Hemiechinus auritus ) is a type of long-eared hedgehog that occurs in a large area from north Africa over large parts of Asia to the north of the People's Republic of China and Mongolia .
features
The real long-eared hedgehog is a small species of hedgehog, according to Smith & Yan Xie 2009 it reaches a head-trunk length of 17 to 23 centimeters, according to Ballenger 1999 from 12 to 27 centimeters. According to Smith & Yan Xie 2009, the tail length is 18 to 28 and according to Ballanger 10 to 50 millimeters. The weight is between 280 and 500 grams.
The sand-colored beige back is reinforced with upright spines, which are white and dark brown striped. The forehead, the cheeks and the back of the head are colored pale rust-red, the underside of the head and the belly side are white. The peritoneum is soft and fine. With a length of 31 to 40 millimeters, the ears are about half as long as the head and thus significantly longer than those of other hedgehogs. They are viewed as an adaptation for thermoregulation to the hot, dry habitat.
distribution and habitat
The real long-eared hedgehog has a very large Palearctic distribution area, which extends from the eastern Mediterranean region and Egypt via the Middle East and Southwest Asia to western Pakistan as well as from Ukraine via Mongolia to Russia and China .
The real long-eared hedgehog prefers different types of dry steppes , semi-deserts and desert areas as habitat . It is found predominantly in dry river valleys, gorges, forest strips, abandoned irrigation channels and shrubby areas, whereby it often settles in oases and near inhabited areas. On the other hand, it avoids bank forests and high vegetation.
Way of life
The hedgehog lives mainly as a nocturnal loner. He uses structures that he usually digs himself under bushes in various substrates with the help of his strong and clawed front feet. These structures are around 45 centimeters long and have only one entrance. In addition, however, he also takes over abandoned structures from turtles, gerbils , foxes and other animals. It also rests under stones, ledges or in caves. The real long-eared hedgehog rests curled up and is thus protected against enemies.
Hedgehogs are protected against predators by their prickly dress, but they can also run very quickly. During the night, the animals cover up to nine kilometers in search of food. In the very dry and hot season, the animals often lapse into heat rigidity , and in some regions with cold winters they also hibernate . In China this lasts from October to next spring. Nevertheless, the long-eared hedgehog is one of the main components of the eagle owl's diet in Central Asia and accounts for around 14% of its diet there.
nutrition
Like other hedgehogs, the long-eared hedgehog is an omnivore , which feeds primarily on insects such as grasshoppers and beetles as well as other small invertebrates. It also eats eggs, fruits and other parts of plants as well as small vertebrates such as frogs , lizards , small snakes and small mammals . They are very persistent and can survive for up to ten weeks without food and fluids.
The animals have a very well-developed sense of smell and hearing and use them to track down food.
Reproduction and development
There is limited data on reproduction and development in the wild. The animals give birth to young animals only once a year, usually between July and September. Mating takes place by the male standing on its hind legs behind the female, who lies with its breast on the ground and stretches its hind legs.
The females throw one to four young animals after a gestation period of 35 to 42 days, and four to seven according to Smith & Yan Xie 2009. They weigh about 10 grams and are mostly born naked, with only a few very soft spines, and with their eyes closed. They open these after about a week and after about three weeks they start eating solid food. The spines develop very quickly and after five weeks the young animals have a complete spine dress.
The females become sexually mature after about 230 days, the lifespan of the animals averages 6.8 years.
Systematics
The real long-eared hedgehog is recognized as an independent species within the genus of the long-eared hedgehog ( Hemiechinus ), which it forms together with the Indian long-eared hedgehog ( H. collaris ).
Five subspecies are distinguished within the species:
- Hemiechinus auritus albulus
- Hemiechinus auritus auritus
- Hemiechinus auritus megalotis
- Hemiechinus auritus aegyptius
- Hemiechinus auritus libycus
Hazard and protection
The species is listed as not endangered ( least concern ) by the IUCN due to its very large distribution area and the large number of populations . A decline or large-scale threats to the continued existence are not known.
literature
- Hugh's hedgehog. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie (Eds.): A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ et al. 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , p. 294.
- Mazin B. Qumsiyeh: Mammals of the Holy Land . Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock TX 1996, ISBN 0-89672-364-X , pp. 64-66.
Web links
- Hemiechinus auritus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012.1. Submitted by: M. Stubbe, R. Samiya, J. Ariunbold, V. Buuveibaatar, S. Dorjderem, Ts. Monkhzul, M. Otgonbaatar, M. Tsogbadrakh, I. Zagorodniuk, G. Amori, R. Hutterer, B. Kryštufek , N. Yigit, G. Mitsain, LJ Palomo, 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
- Liz Ballenger: Hemiechinus auritus on the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology's Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f g Hugh's hedgehog. In: Andrew T. Smith , Yan Xie (Eds.): A Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ et al. 2008, ISBN 978-0-691-09984-2 , p. 294.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Liz Ballenger: Hemiechinus auritus in the Animal Diversity Web of the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
- ↑ a b c d e Hemiechinus auritus in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012.1. Submitted by: M. Stubbe, R. Samiya, J. Ariunbold, V. Buuveibaatar, S. Dorjderem, Ts. Monkhzul, M. Otgonbaatar, M. Tsogbadrakh, I. Zagorodniuk, G. Amori, R. Hutterer, B. Kryštufek , N. Yigit, G. Mitsain, LJ Palomo, 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
- ↑ a b Hemiechinus auritus ( Memento of the original from November 9, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
