Erimaceus roumanicus, Barrett-Hamilton, 1900

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Erinaceidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 288-330 : 320

2.

Northern White-breasted Hedgehog

Erimaceus roumanicus

French: Hérisson des Balkans / German: Nordlicher WeilRbrustigel / Spanish: Erizo de los Balcanes

Other common names: Eastern European Hedgehog

Taxonomy. Erinaceus europaeus roumanicus Barrett-Hamilton, 1900 ,

“Gageni, Roumania [= Romania].”

Erinaceus roumanicus was first described as a subspecies of E. europaeus and then included as a subspecies of E. concolor , current genetic and morphologic data suggest that E. concolor and E. roumanicus are distinct species with parapatric distributions. Erinaceus roumanicus is sympatric with E. europaeus in parts of central Europe. Five

subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

E.r.roumanicusBarrett-Hamilton,1900—C&EEurope(EofalinefromOderRivertoNAdriaticSea).

E.r.bolkayiV.Martino,1930—Montenegroandadjacentcountries.

E.r.drozdovskiiV.Martino&E.Martino,1933—Macedonia,EuropeanTurkey,andadjacentcountries.

E.r.nesiotesBate,1906—CreteandIonianandAegeanIs,Greece.

E. r. pallidus Ognev, 1928 — SW Russia S to N Caucasus and E to W Siberia. Distributions of most subspecies are not well known.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 208-306 mm, tail 24-31 mm, ear 28-29 mm, hindfoot 40— 44 mm; weight 0.6-1.2 kg. As in other species of Erinaceus , the Northern White-breasted Hedgehog has faintly visible, central parting of spines on crown of head, smooth spines lacking papillae, and well-developed hallux on hindfeet. Color of underside is mix of dirty white and dirty brown. Size varies in a smooth cline across the distribution, with largest individuals in southern populations and smallest in northern areas. Dental formulais 13/2, C1/1,P 3/2, M 3/3 (x2) = 36. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48 and FN = 94.

Habitat. Farmland, parks, and gardens in rural and urban areas, scrubby habitats at edges of forests, and shrubby vegetation from sea level to elevations of at least 1400 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but diet and feeding behavior of the Northern White-breasted Hedgehog are probably similar to the West European Hedgehog ( E. europaeus ).

Breeding. Female Northern White-breasted Hedgehogs can produce two litters peryear: one at the end of May and another at the end of August.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but activity patterns of the Northern White-breasted Hedgehog probably are similar to those of the West European Hedgehog.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available, but movements, home range, and social organization probably are similar to those of the West European Hedgehog.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. Many Northern White-breasted Hedgehogs are killed by collisions with cars, but this is unlikely to cause widespread population declines. It occurs in many protected areas throughoutits wide distribution. No specific conservation measures are necessary at present.

Bibliography. Arslan et al. (2008), Barrett-Hamilton (1900), Bate (1906), Corbet (1988), Geisler & Gropp (1967), Gropp et al. (1969), Hutterer (2005a), Krystufek & Vohralik (2001), Krystufek, Tvrtkovié et al. (2009), Lapini (1999), Martino & Martino (1933), Masseti (2012), Ognev (1928), Pavlinov & Lissovsky (2012), Poduschka (1969), Reeve (1994), Suchentrunk et al. (1998).

Figures

1. West European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), 2. Northern White-breasted Hedgehog (Erimaceus roumanicus), 3. Southern White-breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor), 4. Amur Hedgehog (Erinaceus amurensis), 5. North African Hedgehog (Atelerix algirus), 6. Four-toed Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), 7. Somali Hedgehog (Atelerix sclateri), 8. Southern African Hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis), 9. Desert Hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus), 10. Brandt's Hedgehog (Paraechinus hypomelas), 11. Indian Hedgehog (Paraechinus micropus), 12. Bare-bellied Hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris), 13. Common Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus), 14. Indian Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus collaris), 15. Wang's Forest Hedgehog (Mesechinus wangi), 16. Small-toothed Forest Hedgehog (Mesechinus miodon), 17. Daurian Hedgehog (Mesechinus dawuricus), 18. Hugh's Hedgehog (Mesechinus hughi), 19. Long-eared Gymnure (Hylomys megalotis), 20. Dwarf Gymnure (Hylomys parvus), 21. Short-tailed Gymnure (Hylomys suillus), 22. Moonrat (Echinosorex gymnurus), 23. Shrew Gymnure (Neotetracus sinensis), 24. Hainan Gymnure (Neohylomys hainanensis), 25. Mindanao Gymnure (Podogymnura truei), 26. Dinagat Gymnure (Podogymnura aureospinula)

Subspecies and Distribution. E.r.roumanicusBarrett-Hamilton,1900—C&EEurope(EofalinefromOderRivertoNAdriaticSea). E.r.bolkayiV.Martino,1930—Montenegroandadjacentcountries. E.r.drozdovskiiV.Martino&E.Martino,1933—Macedonia,EuropeanTurkey,andadjacentcountries. E.r.nesiotesBate,1906—CreteandIonianandAegeanIs,Greece. E. r. pallidus Ognev, 1928 — SW Russia S to N Caucasus and E to W Siberia. Distributions of most subspecies are not well known.