Abstract
Hedgehogs in the genus Mesechinus (Family Erinaceidae), which include two currently recognized species (M. dauuricus and M. hughi), are distributed from northeast Mongolia to the upper Amur Basin in Russia and adjacent areas in northeast and northern China. In recent years, a population of Mesechinus hedgehogs was discovered from Mt. Gaoligong, southwestern Yunnan, China, far from the known distribution range of the genus. Furthermore, these hedgehogs are the only known population to be distributed at elevations higher than 2 100 m and in sympatry with gymnures. To evaluate the taxonomic status of these hedgehogs, we examined specimens representing Mesechinus taxa in China and further conducted morphometric and karyotypic analyses. Our results supported the existence of four species in China. Specifically, we identified the hedgehogs from Mt. Gaoligong as a new species, Mesechinus wangi sp. nov., and recognized M. miodon, previously considered as a synonym of either M. dauuricus or M. hughi, as a distinct species. Interestingly, we observed a supernumerary M4 on all specimens of Mesechinus wangi sp. nov., which is an extremely rare event in the evolution of mammalian dentition.
Highlights
Extant erinaceids, including spiny hedgehogs (Erinaceinae) and silky-skinned gymnures and moonrats (Galericinae), are found within the family Erinaceidae (Hutterer, 2005)
Specimens examined We examined 59 specimens of Mesechinus deposited in the Institute of Zoology (IOZ) and Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shaanxi Institute of Zoology (SXIZ), Northwest University (NWU), and China West Normal University (CWNU)
These animals lack a spineless area on their heads, which is distinct from Atelerix, Erinaceus, and Paraechinus (Figures 2, 3), and their ears are similar to the surrounding spines in length, which is distinguishable from Hemiechinus
Summary
Extant erinaceids, including spiny hedgehogs (Erinaceinae) and silky-skinned gymnures and moonrats (Galericinae), are found within the family Erinaceidae (Hutterer, 2005). The living species in Galericinae are mainly distributed in humid montane forests of subtropical and tropical Southeast Asia (Echinosorex, Hylomys and Podogymnura), Southern China (Hylomys and Neotetracus), Science Press and Hainan Island (Neohylomys) With their most recent common ancestor considered to be in the late Miocene (Bannikova et al, 2014), living hedgehogs have adapted to diverse habitats and are widely distributed throughout Africa (Atelerix and Paraechinus) and Eurasia (Erinaceus, Hemiechinus, Mesechinus and Paraechinus) in deciduous woodland, coniferous forest, forest steppe, grasslands, savanna, dry steppes, semi-desert, and even arid desert (Corbet & Hill, 1992); until recently, they have never been found in tropical or subtropical rainforest. While these clues indicate that the population represents a distinct taxon, its taxonomic status has yet to be resolved
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