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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Observations: Not much is known about the longevity of these animals. There have been, so far unverified, claims of animals living up to 7 years (Ronald Nowak and John Paradiso 1983). One captive specimen was estimated to be 5.2 years old when it died (Richard Weigl 2005).
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Behavior

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Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical

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Fox, D. 1999. "Echinosorex gymnura" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echinosorex_gymnura.html
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David L. Fox, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Conservation Status

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Echinosorex gymnurus does not appear to be threatened currently.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Fox, D. 1999. "Echinosorex gymnura" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echinosorex_gymnura.html
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David L. Fox, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Trophic Strategy

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The diet if the gymnure is varied, though there is some debate about what food items are most important. It seems that the main component of the diet is terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates such as earthworms, insects, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, crabs and molluscs. Some aquatic vertebrates like frogs and fish are also eaten, as well as fruit.

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Fox, D. 1999. "Echinosorex gymnura" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echinosorex_gymnura.html
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David L. Fox, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Distribution

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Echinosorex gymnurus is found on the Malay Peninsula south of about 12 N and also on Borneo and Sumatra.

Biogeographic Regions: oriental (Native )

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Fox, D. 1999. "Echinosorex gymnura" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echinosorex_gymnura.html
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David L. Fox, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Habitat

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The habitat of moon rats is primary and secondary lowland forest, mangrove swamps, rubber plantations and other cultivated areas. They seem to prefer moist areas, often near streams, with thick ground vegetation.

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

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Fox, D. 1999. "Echinosorex gymnura" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echinosorex_gymnura.html
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Morphology

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The coarse hair of moon rats is white on the head and distal part of the tail and is black elsewhere. The hair on the scaly tail is sparse. The face has black spots near the eyes. White forms are known. The long, mobile nose has a groove on its underside from the tip to a point between the upper incisors. The body is long and narrow. The canines are larger than the adjacent teeth. Head and body length ranges from 260 to 460 mm and females tend to be larger than males.

Range mass: 0.5 to 1.4 kg.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Average basal metabolic rate: 2.816 W.

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Fox, D. 1999. "Echinosorex gymnura" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echinosorex_gymnura.html
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David L. Fox, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Reproduction

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Breeding occurs throughout the year. Two litters per year, each averaging two young, is typical. Gestation is usually betwen 35 and 40 days.

Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual

Average birth mass: 14.5 g.

Average gestation period: 37 days.

Average number of offspring: 2.

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Fox, D. 1999. "Echinosorex gymnura" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echinosorex_gymnura.html
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David L. Fox, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Moonrat

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The moonrat (Echinosorex gymnura) is a southeast Asian species of mammal in the family Erinaceidae (hedgehogs and gymnures). It is the only species in the genus Echinosorex. The moonrat is a fairly small, primarily carnivorous animal which, despite its name, is not closely related to rats or other rodents. The scientific name is sometimes given as Echinosorex gymnurus, but this is incorrect.[1]

Description

The moonrat has a distinct pungent odor with strong ammonia content, different from the musky smell of carnivorans.[3] There are two subspecies: E. g. gymnura is found in Sumatra and the Thai-Malay Peninsula; E. g. alba is found in Borneo.[4] In the former the head and frontal half of the body are white or grey-white; the remaining is mainly black.[5] The latter subspecies is generally white (alba means white in Latin), with a sparse scattering of black hairs; it appears totally white from a distance. Those from western Borneo tend to have a greater proportion of black hairs than those from the east, but animals from Brunei appear intermediate.[4] Largely white E. g. gymnura also occur, but they are rare.[5]

Head and body length is 32–40 cm (13–16 in), tail length is 20–29 cm (7.9–11.4 in),[6] hind foot length is 6.5–7.5 cm (2.6–3.0 in) and weight is 870–1,100 g (1.92–2.43 lb).[5] The dental formula is 3.1.4.33.1.4.3 × 2 = 44.[4] It is possibly the largest member of the order Erinaceomorpha, although the European hedgehog likely weighs a bit more at 1,000 g (2.2 lb) and up to 2,000 g (4.4 lb).[7]

Distribution

Moonrats inhabit most jungle terrain in southern Myanmar, Peninsular Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. Although they are closely related to the short-tailed gymnure (Hylomys suillus) and to the hedgehog, full grown specimens more closely resemble large rats, with which they share similar habits and ecological niches.[8] In Borneo, they occur at many sites throughout the lowlands and up to 900 m in the Kelabit Highlands. They appear to be absent or rare in some localities, possibly due to a shortage of suitable food.

Ecology and habitat

Moonrats are nocturnal and terrestrial, lying up under logs, roots or in abandoned burrows during the day. They inhabit moist forests including mangrove and swamp forests and often enter water.[2][5] In Borneo, they occur mainly in forests, but in peninsular Malaysia they are also found in gardens and plantations. They feed on earthworms and various small animals, mostly arthropods. The moonrat is a host of the acanthocephalan intestinal parasite Moniliformis echinosorexi.[9]

Behaviour and reproduction

Moonrats release strong odours with a strong ammonia content to mark the edges of their territories and warn other moonrats to stay away with threatening hisses also to ward off predators. Adults live alone. When they are preparing to have young, they will make nests mostly from leaves. Females usually have two babies at one time.

Diet

The moonrat is an omnivore, known to eat a wide range of invertebrates—for example, worms, insects, crabs and other invertebrates found in moist areas. They will also eat fruit, and occasionally frogs or fish.

Lifespan

The lifespan of the moonrat is up to five years.[10]

Conservation status

The moonrat is not considered a threatened species. The main threat to the moonrat is deforestation activities due to human development for agriculture, plantation, and commercial logging. Moreover, other demands from Penan in Borneo for food and traditional medicinal contribute to decreasing numbers of moonrats in Borneo.[8] The species is also found in protected areas, including Matang National Park and Kuching Wetlands National Park. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.[2]

Economic importance

The Penan in Borneo used to trade moonrat meat for other foods and goods among themselves and for money.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Hutterer, R. (2005). "Order Erinaceomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ a b c Cassola, F. (2016). "Echinosorex gymnura". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T40603A22326807. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T40603A22326807.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  3. ^ Moonrat at the Encyclopædia Britannica
  4. ^ a b c Payne, J. and Francis, C. M. 2005. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. Sabah society, Malaysia ISBN 9679994716.
  5. ^ a b c d Francis, C.M. (2008). A field guide to the mammals of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-84537-735-9. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  6. ^ Shepherd, Chris R.; Shepherd, Loretta Ann (2012). A Naturalist's Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia. Wiltshire, UK: John Beaufoy Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-906780-71-5.
  7. ^ Wood, Gerald (1983). The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats. ISBN 978-0-85112-235-9.
  8. ^ a b Family Erinaceidae or gymnures and hedgehogs. Thewebsiteofeverything.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-19.
  9. ^ Deveaux, Timothy P.; Schmidt, Gerald D.; Krishnasamy, M. (1988). "Two New Species of Moniliformis (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae) from Malaysia". The Journal of Parasitology. 74 (2): 322–5. doi:10.2307/3282462. JSTOR 3282462. PMID 3128654.
  10. ^ a b The Leading America Zoo Site on the Net. americazoo.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-19. Archived January 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine

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Moonrat: Brief Summary

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The moonrat (Echinosorex gymnura) is a southeast Asian species of mammal in the family Erinaceidae (hedgehogs and gymnures). It is the only species in the genus Echinosorex. The moonrat is a fairly small, primarily carnivorous animal which, despite its name, is not closely related to rats or other rodents. The scientific name is sometimes given as Echinosorex gymnurus, but this is incorrect.

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