Dinagat gymnure

The Dinagat rats hedgehogs ( Podogymnura aureospinula ) is one of two species of the Philippines rats hedgehogs within the hedgehog ( Erinaceidae ). It is endemic to the Philippines and occupied the island of Dinagat, northern Mindanao and the nearby islands of Bucas Grande and Siargao.

Features

The Dinagat rats hedgehogs reach a snout-vent length from 19.0 to 21.1 centimeters and a tail length of 5.9 to 7.3 centimeters. After the Great Rat Hedgehog ( Echinosorex Gymnura ) it is the second largest species of rats hedgehogs. The back is covered with a bristly and spiny coat, which is usually golden brown with black mottling. The belly is colored brown - gray. The ears are relatively large and filled with short white or dark brown hair.

More species-typical features are the enlargement of the frontal region of the skull and dental characteristics.

Dissemination

The Dinagat rats hedgehog is endemic to the Philippines. Its distribution is limited to Dinagat, northern Mindanao and the nearby islands of Bucas Grande and Siargao.

Way of life

Over the life of Dinagat rats Hedgehog are very few information. The species occurs mainly in lowland primary forest, secondary forest and the designated " bonsai " forest forests with low-growing trees. In Bucas Grande, the species lives in anthropogenically disturbed forests and in forest remnants in the vicinity of agricultural land or even on the edge of heavily modified areas, if there are woods nearby.

System

The Dinagat rats Hedgehog is one of two species of the Philippines rats hedgehogs ( Podogymnura ) within the hedgehog ( Erinaceidae ). Subspecies are not described. The second type is the Mindanao rats hedgehogs ( Podogymnura truei ), which is found mainly in Mindanao. The describer illustrate that the classification into its own, then monotypic, genus due to the features and differences to Podogymnura truei would also be acceptable.

Threats and conservation

The species is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) as endangered ( endangered ). This is justified by the very limited area of ​​distribution of well under 5,000 square kilometers and the progressive deforestation and habitat destruction on the Philippine islands. For Dinagat the only of the islands with significant forest resources, there is a mining concession for extraction of mineral resources.

For the size of the world stock there is no information, and data on population trends do not exist. The species is relatively common in their habitat in the primary and secondary forest. How adaptable are the Dinagat rats hedgehogs respond to habitat changes is unknown.