Kingdom Animalia Order Eulipotyphla Genus Hylomys Higher classification Hylomys | Phylum Chordata Family Erinaceidae Scientific name Hylomys suillus Rank Species | |
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Similar Hylomys, Gymnure, Shrew gymnure, Hainan gymnure, Erinaceidae | ||
The short-tailed gymnure (Hylomys suillus) is a small mammal from the family of the Erinaceidae. The scientific name of the species is first published by Müller in 1840.
Contents
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 12–14 cm (4.7–5.5 in) and the tail length measures 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in)
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 (Brunei, Cambodja, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), but it is also found in China.