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 genusEchinosorex. 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]
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]
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][dead link]
References
^ abHutterer, 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. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^ abcCassola, 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.
^ abcPayne, J. and Francis, C. M. 2005. A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. Sabah society, Malaysia ISBN9679994716.
^ abcdFrancis, C.M. (2008). A field guide to the mammals of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. p. 176. ISBN978-1-84537-735-9. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
^Shepherd, Chris R.; Shepherd, Loretta Ann (2012). A Naturalist's Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia. Wiltshire, UK: John Beaufoy Publishing. p. 14. ISBN978-1-906780-71-5.
^Wood, Gerald (1983). The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats. ISBN978-0-85112-235-9.
^ abFamily Erinaceidae or gymnures and hedgehogs. Thewebsiteofeverything.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-19.
^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.
^ abThe Leading America Zoo Site on the Net. americazoo.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-19. January 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
External links
Wikispecies has information related to Echinosorex gymnura.
Echinosorex gymnura - Animal Diversity Web
January 31, 2023
moonrat, moonrat, echinosorex, gymnura, southeast, asian, species, mammal, family, erinaceidae, hedgehogs, gymnures, only, species, genus, echinosorex, moonrat, fairly, small, primarily, carnivorous, animal, which, despite, name, closely, related, rats, other,. 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 Moonrat 1 Museum specimens of the two moonrat subspecies E g gymnura above E g alba below Conservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 2 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder EulipotyphlaFamily ErinaceidaeSubfamily GalericinaeGenus EchinosorexBlainville 1838Species E gymnuraBinomial nameEchinosorex gymnura Raffles 1822 Moonrat range Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Ecology and habitat 4 Behaviour and reproduction 5 Diet 6 Lifespan 7 Conservation status 8 Economic importance 9 References 10 External linksDescription EditThe 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 3 3 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 EditMoonrats 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 EditMoonrats 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 EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed April 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 EditThe 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 EditThe lifespan of the moonrat is up to five years 10 Conservation status EditThe 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 EditThe Penan in Borneo used to trade moonrat meat for other foods and goods among themselves and for money 10 dead link References Edit 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 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 Moonrat at the Encyclopaedia Britannica a b c Payne J and Francis C M 2005 A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo Sabah society Malaysia ISBN 9679994716 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 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 Wood Gerald 1983 The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats ISBN 978 0 85112 235 9 a b Family Erinaceidae or gymnures and hedgehogs Thewebsiteofeverything com Retrieved on 2012 12 19 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 a b The Leading America Zoo Site on the Net americazoo com Retrieved on 2012 12 19 Archived January 2 2009 at the Wayback MachineExternal links Edit Wikispecies has information related to Echinosorex gymnura Echinosorex gymnura Animal Diversity Web Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Moonrat amp oldid 1117820986, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
