Echinosorex gymnurus, Blainville, 1838

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 : 328-329

22.

Moonrat

Echinosorex gymnurus

French: Grand Gymnure / German: Grol 3er Rattenigel / Spanish: Gimnuro

Other common names: Malayan Moonrat, Raffles’ Gymnure

Taxonomy. Viverra gymnura Raffles, 1822 ,

“Sumatra.” Restricted by G. B. Corbet in 1988 to “Bencoolen, Sumatra,” Indonesia .

Widely used specific name gymnura and subspecific name alba have been changed for gender agreement. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

E.g.gymnurusRaffles,1822—MalayPeninsulaandSumatra,includingTebingtinggi1. E. g. albus Giebel, 1863 — Borneo, including Labuan I.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 255-460 mm, tail 165-300 mm, ear 45-50 mm, hindfoot 55-75 mm; weight 0.4-2 kg. Females are larger than males. The Moonrat is the largest extant erinaceid. Shaggy pelage consists of short and thick underfur, covered by dense layer of long and coarse hairs. Coloris variable and primarily black on head and shoulders, pale on face and neck, and whitish on distal part of tail, or pelage generally is white with sparse scattering of black hairs. Face usually is marked with black spots or stripes near eyes. White forms (not albino) also occur. Body is exceedingly narrow, perhaps an adaptation for seeking food in narrow crevices. Underside of long, and mobile nose is grooved from its tip to a point between upper incisors. Scantily haired tail reveals that scales are arranged in rows around tail, except near base where they are arranged diagonally. Terminal one-third oftail is compressed. There is geographical variation in size and color. In Thailand, individuals in northern areas are smaller than those near the Equator. Individuals from western Borneo have greater proportion of black hairs than those from the east; intermediate color has been noted for Brunei. Dental formulais13/3, C1/1,P4/4,M 3/3 (x2) = 44.

Habitat. Tropical lowlands and foothills, including primary, secondary, logged, and mangrove forests, rubber plantations, cultivated areas, and especially areas near streams and mangrove swamps.

Food and Feeding. The Moonrat forages extensively on the forest floor, where it primarily eats earthworms, beetles, cockroaches, insect larvae, millipedes, centipedes, spiders, and scorpions. It might be partially aquatic and often enters water to hunt for frogs, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects. It also takes other invertebrates on land and at water’s edge. It eats fruits of cultivated oil palms.

Breeding. The Moonrat presumably is polygynous and breeds throughout the year. Pregnancies have been recorded in May, June, September, and November. Gestation lasts ¢.35-40 days. Litters have two young (range 1-2). Sizes of neonates are head-body 80-81 mm, tail 25-26 mm, hindfoot 14 mm, and weight 14-15 g. Females have 1-2 litters/year, usually two. Maximum reported lifespan in captivity is 55 months.

Activity patterns. The Moonratis terrestrial and usually nocturnal but can be active day or night. Day-resting sites are under roots of trees and in hollow logs, empty holes, burrows, rocky crevices, or nipa palms ( Nypa fruticans, Arecaceae ) in mangrove swamps. The Moonrat constructs a nest of leaves or other materials. It emerges from its nest about one hour after sunset and usually is active for 45-90 minutes before returning to its nest. The Moonrat walks and runs with its body high off the ground and its snout raised. Snout explores surroundings by probing, similar to shrews ( Soricidae ). Local weather conditions, especially heavy rainfall, can increase foraging activities, probably to take advantage of emerging earthworms.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Moonrats are generally solitary and highly intolerant and aggressive toward conspecifics. Captive individuals emit hiss-puffs and low roars during encounters. The Moonrat engages in scent-marking behavior using strong, characteristic odor that emanates from two small glands near its anus; odor has been described as resembling rotten onions, ammonia, and stale sweat. It uses this potent scent to mark home ranges and deter predators; captive individuals use the odor to mark openings of nest boxes. On Borneo, Moonrats often forage in pairs at night along small muddy streams and damp areas in lowland primary and logged forests. Strange sounds cause a Moonrat to react suddenly and seek cover. When frightened, it freezes into hunched, open-mouthed postures, uttering a loud hissing cough.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Moonrat has a wide distribution and is abundant in suitable habitat. It occurs in many protected areas, including Kubah National Park and Kuching Wetlands National Park on Borneo.

Bibliography. Beer (2003), Corbet (1988), Curtis (2003), Davis (1962), Frost et al. (1991), Gould (1978), Hayssen et al. (1993), Heaney & Morgan (1982), Hutterer (2005a), Jenkins & Robinson (2002), Lekagul & McNeely (1988), Lim (1967a), Medway (1983), Nowak (1999), Payne & Francis (2007), Phillipps & Phillipps (2016), Ralls (1976), Reeve (1994), Stone (1995b), Whittow et al. (1977).

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.g.gymnurusRaffles,1822—MalayPeninsulaandSumatra,includingTebingtinggi1. E. g. albus Giebel, 1863 — Borneo, including Labuan I.