Mesechinus miodon, Thomas, 1908

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 : 326-327

16.

Small-toothed Forest Hedgehog

Mesechinus miodon

French: Hérisson du Shaanxi / German: Steppenigel / Spanish: Erizo de dientes pequenos

Other common names: Miodont Forest Hedgehog

Taxonomy. Erinaceus miodon Thomas, 1908 ,

“Yu-lin-fu [= Yulin], Shen-si [= Shaanxi], 4000’ [= 1219 m],” China .

Based on genetic and morphometric data, Kong Fei and colleagues in 2016 suggested that the population of M. dauuricus near the outskirts ofYulin city in the Yulin region of Shaanxi, China, should be recognized as M. miodon. Their mitochondrial data indicate that M. miodon is more closely related to Hemiechinus awuritus than to M. dauuricus . Monotypic.

Distribution. E Ningxia and N Shaanxi, NC China.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 120-220 mm, tail 25-46 mm, ear 24-35 mm, hindfoot 35-40 mm; weight 230-750 g. Spines of the Small-toothed Forest Hedgehog are 22-29 mm long, and basal two-thirds are pale brown, then ringed with blackish brown for c.4 mm and usually tipped with pale brown for c.4 mm. Tips of spines are sometimes dark. Hair on head, sides, legs, and tail varies from dull white or brownish to distinctly brown. Underside usually is pale to dull white. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44-48 and FN = 84-92. Circular mitochondrial genome is 16,842 base pairs long, comprising 22 transfer RNAs, 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs, and one control region.

Habitat. Arid regions of Shaanxi. The area around Yulinfu has few trees, and bare brown cliffs and yellow sand are devoid of vegetation, except for occasional tufts of sage scrub.

Food and Feeding. The Small-toothed Forest Hedgehog eats several species of beetles.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Populations of Small-toothed Forest Hedgehogs appear largest in April-May when food is abundant. They become inactive and enter hibernation by late October.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Ai Huaisen et al. (2018), Allen (1938), Kong Fei, Guo Jianmin & Wu Jiayan (2016), Kong Fei, Wu Jiayan & Guo Jianmin (2016a, 2016b), Kong Fei, Wu Jiayan, Guo Jianmin & Wu Xiaomin (2016a, 2016b), Thomas (1908b, 1909).

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. E Ningxia and N Shaanxi, NC China.