Gaoligong hedgehog
| Gaoligong hedgehog | ||||||||||||
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| Mesechinus wangi | ||||||||||||
| He , Jiang & Ai , 2018 |
The Gaoligong hedgehog ( Mesechinus wangi ) is a species of hedgehog endemic to the southwest of the Chinese province of Yunnan . The scientific description of the species was published in May 2018. All of the type specimens examined for the initial description were caught in the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve at altitudes of 2100 to 2680 meters.
features
The Gaoligong hedgehog is a large steppe hedgehog with a head-trunk length of 17 to 24 cm, a 1.4 to 1.8 cm long tail and a weight of 336 to 450 g. The rear foot is 4.5 to 4.8 cm in length, the ears are 2.8 to 3.1 cm long and therefore just as long as the surrounding spines. The spines are 22 to 25 mm long. More than 80% of the spines are colored white over two thirds of their length and one third black. The remaining spines (<20%) are two-thirds white, followed by a black ring, a narrow white ring and a black tip. A thornless zone in the middle of the top of the head is missing. The peritoneum is dark brown. The Gaoligong hedgehog is the only hedgehog to have a fourth upper molar . This is much smaller than the third molar and has only one root. The karyotype consists of a chromosome set of 2n = 48 chromosomes (FN = 92).
Habitat and way of life
The Gaoligong hedgehog is so far only known from the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve at altitudes of 2100 to 2680 m. The region is located in the prefecture -level city of Baoshan in the Chinese province of Yunnan. The habitat is a subtropical, evergreen forest with diverse vegetation, including beech family (Fagaceae), laurel family (Lauraceae), heather family (Ericaceae) and tea bush family (Theaceae). So far nothing is known about the diet, reproductive behavior or other behavior of the animals. The gaoligong hedgehog hibernates from mid-October to early April.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Huai-Sen Ai, Kai He, Zhong-Zheng Chen, Jia-Qi Li, Tao Wan, Quan Li, Wen-Huan Nie, Jin-Huan Wang, Wei-Ting Su & Xue-Long Jiang. 2018. Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Mesechinus (Mammalia: Erinaceidae) with Description of A New Species. Zoological Research. DOI: 10.24272 / j.issn.2095-8137.2018.034
- ^ A b Troy Best: Family Erinaceidae (Hedgehogs and Gymnures). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 8: Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2018, ISBN 978-84-16728-08-4 , pp. 288-330 (p. 326)