Short-tailed gymnure


The short-tailed gymnure is a small mammal from the family of the Erinaceidae. The scientific name of the species is first published by Salomon Müller in 1840.

Description

The upperparts of the short-tailed gymnure are reddish brown to dark brown, with a grey tinge. The underparts are light grey, with white-tipped hairs. It resembles a large shrew, with a long snout and a very short hairless tail. It also has rounded, leathery ears. The head and body length is and the tail length measures

Habits and habitat

This mammal is active both day and night. The species lives in hill and montane forests up to 3,000m, but sometimes in humid lowland forests. It feeds mainly on insects on the ground but it also takes some fruit sometimes. They normally don't live any longer than 2 years.

Distribution

The species lives mainly in Southeast Asia, but it is also found in China.