Erinaceidae is a family of small mammals in the order Eulipotyphla. A member of this family is called an erinaceid, and the family includes hedgehogs and gymnures. Erinaceidae is one of four families in the order Eulipotyphla.[1] They are found in Africa, Europe, and Asia, primarily in forests, shrublands, savannas, and grasslands, though some species can also be found in deserts, rocky areas, or caves. They range in size from the gymnures in the Hylomys genus, at 9 cm (4 in) plus a 1 cm (0.4 in) tail, to the northern and southern white-breasted hedgehogs, at 30 cm (12 in) plus a 5 cm (2 in) tail. Erinaceids are omnivorous and primarily eat insects and small vertebrates such as lizards, though they also consume plants, eggs, and fungi. Hedgehogs all have spines on their backs, while gymnures have fur. No erinaceids have population estimates, but the Hainan gymnure and Dinagat gymnure are categorized as endangered species.

Brown hedgehog
European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

The twenty-four extant species of Erinaceidae are divided into two subfamilies: Erinaceinae, containing sixteen hedgehog species in five genera, and Galericinae, containing eight gymnure species in five genera. A few extinct prehistoric Erinaceidae species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.[2]

Conventions edit

IUCN Red List categories
Conservation status
 EX Extinct (0 species)
 EW Extinct in the wild (0 species)
 CR Critically Endangered (0 species)
 EN Endangered (2 species)
 VU Vulnerable (1 species)
 NT Near threatened (0 species)
 LC Least concern (20 species)
Other categories
 DD Data deficient (1 species)
 NE Not evaluated (0 species)

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the erinaceid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

Classification edit

The family Erinaceidae consists of two subfamilies: Erinaceinae, containing sixteen hedgehog species in five genera, and Galericinae, containing eight gymnure species in five genera.

Family Erinaceidae

Erinaceidae[3]  

Erinaceids edit

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.[1]

Subfamily Erinaceinae edit

Genus AtelerixPomel, 1848 – four species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Four-toed hedgehog

 

A. albiventris
(Wagner, 1841)
Western, central, and eastern Africa
 
Size: 17–23 cm (7–9 in) long[4]

Habitat: Savanna and grassland[5]

Diet: Invertebrates, as well as plants and small vertebrates[4]
 LC 


Unknown  [5]

North African hedgehog

 

A. algirus
(Lereboullet, 1842)

Three subspecies
  • A. a. algirus
  • A. a. girbanensis
  • A. a. vagans
Northern Africa
 
Size: 20–25 cm (8–10 in) long[6]

Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[7]

Diet: Omnivorous, including arthropods, small vertebrates, carrion, and fungi[6]
 LC 


Unknown  [7]

Somali hedgehog

 

A. sclateri
Anderson, 1895
Somalia
 
Size: 20–27 cm (8–11 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail[8]

Habitat: Grassland and savanna[9]

Diet: Believed to be omnivorous; primarily insects[8]
 LC 


Unknown  [9]

Southern African hedgehog

 

A. frontalis
(Smith, 1831)
Southern Africa
 
Size: 15–20 cm (6–8 in) long, plus 2 cm (1 in) tail[10]

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland[11]

Diet: Omnivorous; primarily insects, as well as carrion, vegetables, fungi, and small vertebrates[10]
 LC 


Unknown  [11]

Genus ErinaceusLinnaeus, 1758 – four species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Amur hedgehog

 

E. amurensis
Schrenk, 1859
Eastern Asia
 
Size: 15–29 cm (6–11 in) long, plus 1–5 cm (0.4–2.0 in) tail[12]

Habitat: Forest and shrubland[13]

Diet: Earthworms and other ground invertebrates, as well as small vertebrates and fruit[13]
 LC 


Unknown  [13]

European hedgehog

 

E. europaeus
Linnaeus, 1758
Europe, northwestern Asia, and New Zealand
 
Size: 13–27 cm (5–11 in) long, plus 2 cm (1 in) tail[14]

Habitat: Forest and grassland[15]

Diet: Omnivorous; primarily insects, as well as other invertebrates, eggs, small vertebrates, and carrion[14]
 LC 


Unknown  [15]

Northern white-breasted hedgehog

 

E. roumanicus
Barrett-Hamilton, 1900
Eastern Europe and western Asia (in blue)
 
Size: 13–30 cm (5–12 in) long, plus 1–5 cm (0.4–2.0 in) tail[16]

Habitat: Forest and shrubland[17]

Diet: Omnivorous; primarily insects, as well as other invertebrates, eggs, small vertebrates, and carrion[18]
 LC 


Unknown  [17]

Southern white-breasted hedgehog

 

E. concolor
Martin, 1838
Western Asia (in orange)
 
Size: 13–30 cm (5–12 in) long, plus 1–5 cm (0.4–2.0 in) tail[16]

Habitat: Forest and shrubland[19]

Diet: Omnivorous; primarily insects, as well as other invertebrates, eggs, small vertebrates, and carrion[18]
 LC 


Unknown  [19]

Genus HemiechinusFitzinger, 1866 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Indian long-eared hedgehog

 

H. collaris
(Gray, 1830)
Western India and Pakistan
 
Size: 15–28 cm (6–11 in) long, plus 1–6 cm (0.4–2.4 in) tail[20]

Habitat: Shrubland, grassland, and desert[21]

Diet: Omnivorous; primarily invertebrates and insects, as well as small vertebrates, eggs, carrion, fruit, and seeds[20]
 LC 


Unknown  [21]

Long-eared hedgehog

 

H. auritus
(Gmelin, 1770)
Western and central Asia
 
Size: 12–27 cm (5–11 in) long, plus 1–5 cm (0.4–2.0 in) tail[22]

Habitat: Shrubland and desert[23]

Diet: Omnivorous; primarily invertebrates and insects, as well as eggs, fruit, vegetables, and small vertebrates[22]
 LC 


Unknown  [23]

Genus MesechinusOgnew, 1951 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Daurian hedgehog


M. dauuricus
(Sundevall, 1842)
East-central Asia
 
Size: About 24 cm (9 in) long, plus 3 cm (1 in) tail[20]

Habitat: Forest and grassland[24]

Diet: Beetles and other invertebrates, as well as small reptiles, bird eggs and nestlings, rodents, and carrion[24]
 LC 


Unknown  [24]

Hugh's hedgehog


M. hughi
(Thomas, 1908)
Central China
 
Size: About 24 cm (9 in) long, plus 3 cm (1 in) tail[20]

Habitat: Grassland[25]

Diet: Omnivorous; primarily invertebrates and insects, as well as small vertebrates, eggs, carrion, fruit, and seeds[20]
 LC 


Unknown  [25]

Genus ParaechinusTrouessart, 1879 – four species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Bare-bellied hedgehog

 

P. nudiventris
(Horsfield, 1851)
Southern India
 
Size: 14–28 cm (6–11 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[26]

Habitat: Forest and shrubland[27]

Diet: Insects, as well as small vertebrates, eggs, and scorpions[20]
 LC 


Unknown  [27]

Brandt's hedgehog

 

P. hypomelas
(Brandt, 1836)
Western Asia
 
Size: 14–28 cm (6–11 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[26]

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland, and desert[28]

Diet: Insects, as well as small vertebrates, eggs, and scorpions[20]
 LC 


Unknown  [28]

Desert hedgehog

 

P. aethiopicus
(Ehrenberg, 1832)
Northern Africa and Arabian Peninsula
 
Size: 14–23 cm (6–9 in) long[29]

Habitat: Desert, inland wetlands, grassland, shrubland, and savanna[30]

Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and eggs[29]
 LC 


Unknown  [30]

Indian hedgehog

 

P. micropus
(Blyth, 1846)
Western India and Pakistan
 
Size: 14–28 cm (6–11 in) long, plus 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) tail[31]

Habitat: Shrubland and desert[32]

Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, small vertebrates, and eggs[31]
 LC 


Unknown  [32]

Subfamily Galericinae edit

Genus EchinosorexBlainville, 1836 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Moonrat

 

E. gymnura
(Raffles, 1822)

Two subspecies
  • E. g. alba
  • E. g. gymnura
Southeast Asia
 
Size: 26–46 cm (10–18 in) long, plus 16–30 cm (6–12 in) tail[33]

Habitat: Forest[34]

Diet: Invertebrates, as well as frogs, fish, and fruit[35]
 LC 


Unknown  [34]

Genus HylomysMüller, 1839 – three species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Dwarf gymnure


H. parvus
Robinson & Kloss, 1916
Sumatra island in Indonesia
 
Size: 9–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[36]

Habitat: Forest[37]

Diet: Invertebrates, as well as fruit[36]
 VU 


Unknown  [37]

Long-eared gymnure


H. megalotis
Jenkins & Robinson, 2002
Laos
 
Size: 9–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[36]

Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and rocky areas[38]

Diet: Invertebrates, as well as fruit[36]
 DD 


Unknown  [38]

Short-tailed gymnure

 

H. suillus
Müller, 1840

Seven subspecies
Southeastern Asia
 
Size: 9–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail[36]

Habitat: Forest and shrubland[39]

Diet: Invertebrates, as well as fruit[39]
 LC 


Unknown  [39]

Genus NeohylomysShaw & Wong, 1959 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Hainan gymnure

 

N. hainanensis
Shaw & Wong, 1959
Hainan island, China
 
Size: 12–15 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail[40]

Habitat: Forest and caves[41]

Diet: Insects, worms, and plants[40]
 EN 


Unknown  [41]

Genus NeotetracusTrouessart, 1909 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Shrew gymnure

 

N. sinensis
Trouessart, 1909
Southern China
 
Size: 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 4–7 cm (2–3 in) tail[40]

Habitat: Forest[42]

Diet: Insects, worms, and plants[40]
 LC 


Unknown  [42]

Genus PodogymnuraMearns, 1905 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Dinagat gymnure


P. aureospinula
Heaney & Morgan, 1982
Philippines
 
Size: 19–22 cm (7–9 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail[16]

Habitat: Forest[43]

Diet: Insects, worms, and birds[16]
 EN 


Unknown  [43]

Mindanao gymnure


P. truei
Mearns, 1905
Philippines
 
Size: 13–15 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 4–7 cm (2–3 in) tail[44]

Habitat: Forest[45]

Diet: Insects, worms, and carrion[44]
 LC 


Unknown  [45]

References edit

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  43. ^ a b Clayton, E. (2018). "Podogymnura aureospinula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T17829A22326149. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T17829A22326149.en.
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Sources edit