Neotetracus sinensis, Trouessart, 1909

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 : 329

23.

Shrew Gymnure

Neotetracus sinensis

French: Gymnure de Chine / German: Spitzmausigel / Spanish: Gimnuro de China

Other common names: Chinese Moonrat

Taxonomy. Neotetracus sinensis Trouessart, 1909 ,

“Ta-tsien-lou, province of Se-tchouen (China Occidental), at an altitude of 2545 metres.” Interpreted by D. R. Frost and colleagues in 1991 as “Kanding, Sichuan Sheng, 30°07’N, 102°02’E,” China. This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan in S China, and adjacent parts of NE Myanmar and N Vietnam.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 108 mm

(males) and 110 mm (females), tail 65 mm (males) and 62 mm (females), ear 18 mm (males and females), hindfoot 26 mm (males) and 25 mm (females); weight 36 g (males) and 38 g (females). Pelage of the Shrew Gymnureis soft, dense, and long. Upper parts are olive-brown, cinnamon-brown, reddish yellow, or mixed cream-colored and black, and sides of head and neck sometimes are tinged with reddish. Indistinct, black dorsal stripe can be present. Underparts are reddish, buffy gray, grayish white, or cream-colored over dark base. Snout is pointed. Tail is ¢.50% of length of head-body, somewhat slender, and sparsely covered with minute hairs. Feet are brown, five-toed, slender, and elongated, especially hindfeet; forefeet are tinted with reddish. Undersides of feet are naked or covered with short hair. Ears are brown, rounded, large, and covered with short hairs. Microstructures of hairs and vibrissae of the Shrew Gymnure are similar to those on the Long-eared Gymnures ( Hylomys megalotis ) and the Shorttailed Gymnure ( Hylomys suillus ); there are spear-shaped lead hairs and zig-zag guard hairs, but there are no downy hairs. Largest guard hairs of the Shrew Gymnure are long and form upper outer layer of pelage. Zig-zag hairs and wavy hairs are present

among smaller guard hairs. Dental formula is 13/3, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 40. Karyotype is 2n = 32.

Habitat. Subtropical evergreen forests, cool damp rainforests in montane areas, and close to and away from streams at elevations of 1500-2700 m.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Shrew Gymnure contains invertebrates, rhizomes, berries, and other vegetation. Of those examined, stomach of one individual contained earthworms and the other vegetable matter.

Breeding. Breeding of Shrew Gymnures appears to occur year-round. Pregnant females have been observed in April and August. Two litters probably are born each year; litters have 5-7 young.

Activity patterns. Shrew Gymnures are nocturnal and strictly terrestrial. They live in runways and underground burrows along moss and fern-covered banks and under logs, rocks, and other cover. It is not known if they make these runways because other small mammals also use them.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Shrew Gymnure is common in parts of its wide distribution, but it occupies relatively restricted habitats that are subject to increasing encroachment by humans.

Bibliography. Abramov, Shchinov & Rozhnov (2008), Allen (1938), Anthony (1941), Beer (2003), Chernova, Kulikov & Abramov (2015), Chernova, Kulikov, Shchinov & Rozhnov (2012), Frost et al. (1991), Heaney & Morgan (1982), Hutterer (2005a), Jenkins & Robinson (2002), Lu Lu et al. (2013), Mu Huagiang et al. (2011), Nowak (1999), Smith & Yan Xie (2008, 2013), Stone (1995b), Trouessart (1909), Wu Yi et al. (2011), Ye Jianping et al. (2006).

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)

Distribution. Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan in S China, and adjacent parts of NE Myanmar and N Vietnam.