Hugh's hedgehog

Features

Hugh's hedgehog reach a snout-vent length from 15.5 to 20.0 centimeters. The fur and spines are dark, the darker teeth have a white ring at the top. Compared to Daurian hedgehog is the fur on the spike- free sites rougher and darker brown. The spines themselves are comparatively soft. The ears are shorter than the spines. Other features and differences to Daurian hedgehog relate mainly to the skull.

Dissemination

Hugh's hedgehog lives endemic in the People's Republic of China. The distribution area is limited to parts of the Chinese provinces of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Gansu and Sichuan well as in Henan. The subspecies M. h hughi lives in southern Shaanxi and Sichuan, M. h miodon on the Ordos Plateau in Shaanxi and Gansu and M. h sylvaticus in Shanxi, where it is known only from the mountains Zhongtiao Shan.

Way of life

The hedgehog lives in arid steppe areas as well as regionally in coniferous forests. In Shaanxi he comes before sympatric with the Chinese hedgehog (Erinaceus amurensis ). About the life and ecology of Hugh's hedgehog has no information, and there are few museum specimens of this Article

System

Hugh's hedgehog is assigned as a distinct species steppe Nigeln ( genus Mesechinus ), which include in addition to this type only the Daurian hedgehog ( Mesechinus dauuricus ). Originally the species was the Brown -breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) and assigned to the Daurian hedgehog later. Today, three subspecies are distinguished, the nominate M. h hughi, M. and M. miodon h h sylvaticus. M. h miodon was also temporarily assigned to the Daurian hedgehog, the outsourcing as an independent species was discussed.

Threats and conservation

The species is classified as not at risk (least concern) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN ) due to the size of the stock received, and the comparatively large area of ​​distribution. She lives also in several protected areas and a stronger decline in populations is not known.

About the stock size but there is no information. Declines are likely due to overhunting, as the animals are hunted primarily for food and for medicinal purposes.