Paraechinus hypomelas, Brandt, 1836

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 : 324

10.

Brandt's Hedgehog

Paraechinus hypomelas

French: Hérisson de Brandt / German: Brandt-Igel / Spanish: Erizo de Brandt

Other common names: Brandt's Steppic Hedgehog, Long-spined Hedgehog

Taxonomy. FErinaceus hypomelas Brandt, 1836 ,

“pays des Turcomans [= country of the Turkmens].” Interpreted by D. R. Frost and colleagues in 1991 as “roughly equivalent to the Turkmen, Uzbek, Kazak, and Karakalpak regions of the [former] U.S.S.R.”” and by R. Hutterer in 2005 as “somewhere in S Kazakhstan.” Five subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution. P. h. hypomelasBrandt, 1836 — mostof Turkmenistan,SEUzbekistan,SWTajikistan,andIran,includingKhargI. P.h.blanfordiJ.Anderson,1878—EIran,Afghanistan,andPakistan. P.h.eversmanniOgnev,1927—EofCaspianSeainSWKazakhstan,WUzbekistan,andNWTurkmenistan. P.h.sabaeusThomas,1922—ArabianPeninsula. P. h. seniculus Thomas, 1922 — Tunb I, Persian Gulf, Iran.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 136-290 mm, tail 18-38 mm, ear 36-55 mm, hindfoot 30-46 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Typically, Brandt's Hedgehog has striking dark brown or black pelage, with no white band across forehead, but white (not albino) individuals have been documented. Dorsal pelage has spines, with rough surfaces and strong grooves along their length; they are up to 36-37 mm long. Median parting of spines occurs on crown of head. Spines have black tips, often with entire distal one-third being black. Underside, legs, and face are covered with mix of black and gray hairs. Generally, middle part of forehead has more black hairs, with admixture of gray hairs on sides of face. Throat has mix of creamy-white hairs. Legs are long, large ears protrude beyond adjacent spines, and hallux is somewhat reduced but consistently well developed.

Habitat. Dry deserts, desert steppes, and other arid places. In Pakistan, Brandt's Hedgehog appears to prefer dry gravelly slopes or rocky areas, and it survives and thrives in barren arid areas. It also can occur in lowland areas and will venture into cultivated fields.

Food and Feeding. Brandt's Hedgehog is a voracious feeder and will tackle almost any prey from venomous snakes to beetles. Although it primarily is insectivorous, it also eats scorpions, other invertebrates, small vertebrates, eggs of ground-nesting birds, and fruits. In years when the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is plentiful, it forms the bulk of the diet. It has a fondness for ripe melons that are an important summer crop. It also feeds on fallen mulberries and silverberries (Elaegnus, Elacagnaceae). It may be cannibalistic, more so in captivity than in the wild.

Breeding. In non-mountainous areas where there is some monsoon influence, Brandt's Hedgehog possibly breeds throughout the year. Litters usually are born in late spring and early summer (April-May). Average litters have 3—4 young (range 1-6). Eyes open in 21-23 days, and teeth appear in 26-28 days. There is no evidence that more than onelitter is produced each year. A captive Brandt's Hedgehog lived seven years and two months.

Activity patterns. Brandt's Hedgehog is terrestrial and nocturnal; it forages most often at night. It has been observed day-resting in burrows 1m deep in sandy embankments of railway tracks.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Brandt's Hedgehog is solitary and rather nomadic, and it does not use the same shelter continuously throughout the year. Day-resting sites can be under overhanging ledges, in crevices between rocks, and occasionally burrows. Its legs are relatively longer and claws shorter and sharper compared with other species of hedgehogs. These physical traits might be a disadvantage in burrowing and might explain why it is not a very active burrower. It exhibits self-anointing behavior.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Increasing desertification in its distribution is resulting in fragmentation of populations.

Bibliography. Anderson (1878), Beer (2003), Brodie (1977), Corbet (1988), Frost et al. (1991), Habibi (2004), Hutterer (2005a), Nader (1991), Nowak (1999), Ognev (1928), Reeve (1994), Roberts (1997), Stone (1995b), Thomas (1922a), Walton & Walton (1973), Zherebtsova (1992).

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. P. h. hypomelasBrandt, 1836 — mostof Turkmenistan,SEUzbekistan,SWTajikistan,andIran,includingKhargI. P.h.blanfordiJ.Anderson,1878—EIran,Afghanistan,andPakistan. P.h.eversmanniOgnev,1927—EofCaspianSeainSWKazakhstan,WUzbekistan,andNWTurkmenistan. P.h.sabaeusThomas,1922—ArabianPeninsula. P. h. seniculus Thomas, 1922 — Tunb I, Persian Gulf, Iran.