Discovery of Five New Soft-Furred Hedgehog Species in Southeast Asia

Image: Uncovering Hidden Biodiversity – New Soft-Furred Hedgehog Species

Scientists have recently discovered five new species of soft-furred hedgehogs in Southeast Asia. These hedgehogs belong to a group called Hylomys, which are native to Southeast Asia. The discovery brings the total number of known Hylomys species to seven.

The researchers conducted extensive genetic research to confirm their findings. They studied the animals in their natural habitat and also examined specimens from various natural history collections across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Two of the newly discovered species were found in museum collections, while the other three were confirmed to be distinct enough to be recognized as separate species.

These soft-furred hedgehogs are small, long-nosed mammals that are part of the same family as the more familiar hedgehogs. However, they are furry rather than spiny. Dr. Arlo Hinckley, a researcher involved in the study, emphasized the importance of this discovery, particularly in Southeast Asia, which has the highest rates of deforestation in the world.

To discover new species, researchers must study “little brown things” that live in dense forests. These animals are difficult to distinguish from one another without close examination of their genetic codes and physical features, such as their skulls and teeth. One of the newly discovered species, Hylomys macarong, was named after the Vietnamese word for “vampire” due to its long fangs.

The researchers also examined specimens from a total of 14 different natural history collections. Two of the newly discovered species, Hylomys vorax and Hylomys macarong, were found in the collections of the Smithsonian and Drexel University in Philadelphia. These specimens had been stored in drawers for several decades.

Each of the newly discovered Hylomys species appears to inhabit a slightly different habitat, with some living in lowland forests and others at higher altitudes. Dr. Daniel Hinckley, another researcher involved in the study, compared the discovery of these unique species to finding a Picasso in an art gallery or an archaeological site in a city. These discoveries give additional value to the ecosystems in which they are found and may provide funding for their protection.

The study’s findings were published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.