Podogymnura truei, Mearns, 1905

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Erinaceidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 288-330 : 329-330

25.

Mindanao Gymnure

Podogymnura truei

French: Gymnure de Mindanao / German: Mindanao-Rattenigel / Spanish: Gimnuro de Mindanao

Other common names: Long-footed Woodshrew, Mindanao Moonrat, Mindanao Wood-shrew, Philippine Wood Shrew

Taxonomy. Podogymnura true: Mearns, 1905 ,

“Mount Apo at 6,000 feet [= 1829 m] altitude, southern Mindanao, Philippine Islands.” Interpreted by D. R. Frost and colleagues in 1991 as “6°59’N, 125°16’E.” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Mindanao I, S Philippines.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 205-220 mm, tail 40-70 mm, ear 19-22 mm, hindfoot 29-38 mm; weight 52-82 g (adult males), 55-78 g (adult non-pregnant females), and 60-84 g (pregnant females). Female Mindanao Gymnures are slightly larger than males in some external measurements, but sexes are similar in cranial dimensions. Pelage is long, soft, and full, and it has stiffer guard hairs. Upper parts are predominantly ort mixed with coarse reddish-brown hairs. Underparts are hoary and slightly mixed with brown hairs. Tail is robust, moderately haired and buffy to purplish-flesh colored. Nose and toes are flesh colored. Claws are tan, with a reddish-brown spot at middle. Snout,lips, ears, and feet are purplish-flesh colored. Ears are large and semi-naked. Long whiskers protrude out of long snout, which give them good tactile sensation. Dental formulais 13/3, C1/1,P 3/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 40. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 40 and FN = 76.

Habitat. Damp, montane, and mossy forests at elevations of 1300-2900 m. The Mindanao Gymnure is common in montane forests at elevations of ¢.1600-2000 m and abundant in mossy forests at ¢.2000-2900 m. It has been documented near a hole at the base of a large tree, among tangled roots of trees, among roots in thick moss, near logs along creeks in dense forests with undergrowth offerns, under grass on the edge of a lake, and near boulders in a fern-covered valley. It also occursin areas with standing water.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Mindanao Gymnure includes beetles and other insects, worms, other invertebrates, and carrion. It seems especially fond of earthworms.

Breeding. The Mindanao Gymnure probably is polygynous. Nine pregnant females were reported in March, April, and June. During the same periods, 18 adult females had large mammae but were not pregnant, and four others were nulliparous. None of 15 females captured in May and November was pregnant. Average crown-rump length of embryos is 17 mm (range 4-40 mm). Litters have 1-2 young. Juveniles and subadults of both sexes were recorded in March—-May.

Activity patterns. Mindanao Gymnures are nocturnal or crepuscular, and they remain in their burrows during the day.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. At low elevations, the Mindanao Gymnure occurs in restricted patches of forested habitats that are being destroyed by logging and slash-and-burn agriculture; populations in high-elevation forests that have limited commercial value are stable. Native mountain tribes use the meat of the Mindanao Gymnure and other species of mammals as sources of protein.

Bibliography. Beer (2003), Bhatnagar & El-Azawi (1978), Frost et al. (1991), Heaney & Morgan (1982), Heaney, Balete et al. (1998), Heaney, Tabaranza et al. (2006), Hoogstraal (1951), Hibner et al. (1991), Hutterer (2005a), Li Yuchun et al. (2008), Mearns (1905), Nowak (1999), Rabor (1986), Reumer & Meylan (1986), Rickart (2003), Stone (1996b), Zima & Kral (1984).

Figures

1. West European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), 2. Northern White-breasted Hedgehog (Erimaceus roumanicus), 3. Southern White-breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor), 4. Amur Hedgehog (Erinaceus amurensis), 5. North African Hedgehog (Atelerix algirus), 6. Four-toed Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), 7. Somali Hedgehog (Atelerix sclateri), 8. Southern African Hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis), 9. Desert Hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus), 10. Brandt's Hedgehog (Paraechinus hypomelas), 11. Indian Hedgehog (Paraechinus micropus), 12. Bare-bellied Hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris), 13. Common Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus), 14. Indian Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus collaris), 15. Wang's Forest Hedgehog (Mesechinus wangi), 16. Small-toothed Forest Hedgehog (Mesechinus miodon), 17. Daurian Hedgehog (Mesechinus dawuricus), 18. Hugh's Hedgehog (Mesechinus hughi), 19. Long-eared Gymnure (Hylomys megalotis), 20. Dwarf Gymnure (Hylomys parvus), 21. Short-tailed Gymnure (Hylomys suillus), 22. Moonrat (Echinosorex gymnurus), 23. Shrew Gymnure (Neotetracus sinensis), 24. Hainan Gymnure (Neohylomys hainanensis), 25. Mindanao Gymnure (Podogymnura truei), 26. Dinagat Gymnure (Podogymnura aureospinula)

Distribution. Mindanao I, S Philippines.