Paraechinus micropus (Blyth, 1846)

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

11.

Indian Hedgehog

Paraechinus micropus

French: Hérisson indien / German: Indischer Igel / Spanish: Erizo de India

Other common names: Indian Desert Hedgehog, Pale Hedgehog

Taxonomy. Erinaceus micropus Blyth, 1846 ,

“Bhawulpore.” Interpreted by D. R. Frost and colleagues in 1991 as “Bahawalpur, Pakistan, 29°23’N, 71°39’L.” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Arid zones of SE Pakistan (extreme SE Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh) and NW India (W Rajasthan, Gujarat, and extreme NW Maharashtra).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 130-230 mm, tail 10-40 mm, ear 26-32 mm, hindfoot 24-26 mm; weight 300-600 g. The Indian Hedgehog is small and rounded, with pointed nose and short legs. It has dark legs and relatively small feet and claws. Color is highly variable, with some individuals tending toward melanistic and others toward albinistic. True albinos have been reported. The Indian Hedgehog has well-defined, dark,facial mask thatis variable in shape and color. Dorsal pelage has spines, with rough surfaces and strong grooves along their length; they average 19-23 mm long and have fairly extensive creamy-white tips. Spines can be banded with dark brown or black and white or yellow, but usually only one of these colors predominates; some individuals have red-golden tint. There is wide and conspicuous center parting of spines on crown of head and distinct whitish band across forehead. Ears protrude beyond adjacent spines, and snoutis pointed. Upper parts of face and cheeks are grayish white. Underparts can be blotched dark brown and white, varying from entirely brown to entirely white. Legs are dark. Limbs, abdomen, and area around eyes and muzzle are covered with reddish brown to reddish gray hairs. Hallux is somewhat reduced but well developed. Tail is short and stumpy and sparsely covered with hairs. Karyotype is 2n = 48.

Habitat. Primarily deserts and other arid areas in dry sandy areas, tropical thorn forests, semiarid scrublands, and agricultural lands. The Indian Hedgehog also occupies slightly more mesic habitats, especially regions influenced by monsoons.

Food and Feeding. The Indian Hedgehog usually feeds at night, and its typical gait is a trot at ¢.30 cm/sec. When pursuing prey or when frightened, it may travel up to 64 cm/sec. Its diet consists mainly of insects (especially dung beetles) but also solifugid spiders, scorpions, frogs, toads,lizards, small snakes, eggs of ground-nesting birds, and rodents. It will eat ripe fallen fruits ofjujube dates (Zizyphus, Rhamnaceae ). It holds down prey with forepaws and begins consuming its victim posterior-end first. Apparently, it stores excess food in its burrow for future use. Captive Indian Hedgehogs have survived 4-6 weeks without food and water.

Breeding. The Indian Hedgehog is polygynous, and probably only one litter is produced each year. Males are reproductively capable well in advance of the breeding season, which extends throughout the monsoon period in April-September. Litters are born in July-September when insects are most abundant. Litters usually have 1-2 young (range 1-6). Neonates are 47-54 mm long. Captive Indian Hedgehogs sometimes eat their young.

Activity patterns. The Indian Hedgehog usually is nocturnal and rather sedentary. Dayresting sites can be under a pile of brushy debris or a bush, but typically they are in burrows. The Indian Hedgehog does not hibernate. Although insects generally are plentiful even in winter, it undergoes temporary episodes of torpidity during drought or when food is scarce. When torpid,it remains curled up in its burrow or other shelter. It digs its own burrows and caches food.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Indian Hedgehogs excavate their own burrows that have one opening and are ¢.46 cm long. They also occupy burrows abandoned by other small mammals including those of the geographically sympatric Indian Long-eared Hedgehog ( Hemiechinus collaris ); they often occupy the same burrow and territory throughout the year. Indian Hedgehogs are usually solitary and nonaggressive. Males and females meet only to breed. Except for nursing mothers, only one Indian Hedgehog lives in a burrow at a time, although three shared one burrow in captivity. They engage in self-anointing behavior.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Indian Hedgehog is widespread and common, but local populations are increasingly fragmented and isolated due to desertification and agricultural development.

Bibliography. Beer (2003), Bidwai & Bawa (1981), Corbet (1988), Eisentraut (1952), Frost et al. (1991), Gupta & Sharma (1961), Hutterer (2005a), Krishna & Prakash (1956), Mahabal et al. (2015), Nowak (1999), Prakash (1959, 1960), Reeve (1994), Roberts (1997), Shah & Aravinda Babu (1977), Stone (1995b), Walton & Walton (1973).

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. Arid zones of SE Pakistan (extreme SE Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh) and NW India (W Rajasthan, Gujarat, and extreme NW Maharashtra).