Shrew gymnure
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The shrew gymnure, or shrew hedgehog (''Neotetracus sinensis''), is a species of mammal in the family Erinaceidae and is the only extant species in the genus Neotetracus. It is found in China,
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Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
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Description

The shrew gymnure's coat is soft, dense, and quite long. The back coat color ranges from olive-brown, cinnamon-brown, and a mixed cream/black color. On the underside of the body, the coat color is usually red, grey, or cream-colored. In some shrew gymnures, the sides of the neck and head are tinged with red. A faint black dorsal stripe may also be present. Its tail is lightly covered with tiny hairs. In comparison to other members of its family, the shrew gymnure has a longer tail, shorter snout, and fewer teeth.


Behavior

Shrew gymnures reside in cool, damp forests between 300 and 2700 m altitude. Within their range, shrew gymnures can be found beneath logs and rocks and also dwell in burrows characterized by moss and fern cover. They are strictly terrestrial, as well as nocturnal. Breeding season for the shrew gymnure extends throughout the year, with a probable limit of two litters per year.


Diet

This mammal's diet consists mostly of invertebrates.


References

Gymnures Mammals described in 1909 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{erinaceidae-stub