Mesechinus hughi

18.

Hugh's Hedgehog

Mesechinus hughi

French: Hérisson de Hugh / German: Hugh-Igel / Spanish: Erizo de Hugh

Other common names: Central Chinese Hedgehog, Shanxi Hedgehog

Taxonomy. Erinaceus hughi Thomas, 1908,

“Paochi, Shen-si.” Interpreted by D. R. Frost and colleagues in 1991 as

“Baoji, Shaanxi Sheng, China, 34°23’N, 107°09°E.” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. S Gansu, S Shaanxi, Shanxi, NE & SE Sichuan, and S Henan in C China.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 148-232 mm, tail 12-24 mm, ear 16-33 mm,

hindfoot 30-47 mm; weight 112-750 g. Hugh’s Hedgehog is very dark. Dorsal pelage has spines that are smooth and have minute, subterminal, and pale band just before dark tips. Ears are no longer than adjacent spines. Ventral pelage is pale.

Habitat. Semiarid and dry steppe habitats and subalpine and low-elevation coniferous forests.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information for this species, but Hugh’s Hedgehog is terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Hugh's Hedgehog occupies relatively small area of suitable habitat thatis shrinking because of human encroachment. It has been regionally Red Listed in China as vulnerable. Research is needed to better understand population status, biology and ecology, habitat status, and conservation threats.

Bibliography. Ai Huaisen et al. (2018), Beer (2003), Corbet (1988), Frost et al. (1991), Hutterer (2005a), Kong Fei, Wu Jiayan & Guo Jianmin (2016a), Nowak (1999), Reeve (1994), Smith & Yan Xie (2013), Stone (1995b), Thomas (1908b).