Big rat hedgehog
| Big rat hedgehog | ||||||||||||
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Preparation of a large rat hedgehog in the Koenig Museum . |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Echinosorex | ||||||||||||
| Blainville , 1838 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Echinosorex gymnura | ||||||||||||
| ( Raffles , 1822) |
The large rat or hairy hedgehog ( Echinosorex gymnura ) is a species of mammal from the subfamily of the rat hedgehog (Galericinae).
features
Large rat hedgehogs are about the size of a rabbit, they reach a head body length of 26 to 45 centimeters, the length of the sparsely hairy and scaled tail is about 17 to 30 centimeters, they reach a weight of 0.5 to 2 kilograms and are therefore the heaviest representatives of the hedgehogs at all .
Their coarse fur is black in color, the head, shoulders and the rear half of the tail are white. The snout is pointed, black facial drawings around the eyes create a raccoon-like impression.
distribution and habitat
Large rat hedgehogs live in Southeast Asia, their distribution area includes the Malay Peninsula as well as Sumatra and Borneo , there in Malay called Tikus Bulan (dt. "Moon rat"). There they prefer the humid primeval forests and like to stay near rivers. They can also be found in the large mangrove swamps .
Way of life
Large rat hedgehogs are predominantly nocturnal. During the day they retreat between tree roots, under tree trunks or in caves, they line their sleeping place with leaves. At night they go in search of food, mostly staying on the ground and not climbing trees. However, they are good swimmers and get some of their food from the water. They are loners who react aggressively to other species. The entrances to their sleeping places are marked with a strongly smelling secretion from the anal glands .
food
The diet of the great rat hedgehog consists primarily of invertebrates such as crustaceans , worms , insects , scorpions, and others, which they prey on both in the water and on land. They also eat small vertebrates such as frogs and fish, and occasionally fruit.
Reproduction
Reproduction can take place throughout the year; the female usually has two litters a year. After a gestation period of 35 to 40 days, two young are usually born.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Web links
- Illustration
- Echinosorex gymnura inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: Lunde, D., Meijaard, E., Ruedas, L. & van Strien, NJ, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
