The Biggest Hedgehog

Slender anole in Costa Rica
A stuffed Echinosorex gymnura at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Photo by David Starner.
The Biggest Hedgehog: Greater Moonrat (Echinosorex gymnura)

You’ll know a moonrat by its smell -- they release a strong odor with high ammonia content to mark their territories and ward off predators. On the IUCN's Least Concern list, moonrats live in moist forests in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, and Sumatra. Although occasionally kept as pets in the US and used for meat by the Penan nation in Borneo, the moonrat’s range is widespread. Moonrats are nocturnal, coming out at night from their homes under logs or roots to eat insects, worms, fruit, frogs, and fish. They typically live alone.

Mammal / Hedgehogs and gymnures

By



FAQs

  • May I use graphics from mongabay.com for my projects? Yes, you may provided that you don't remove the mongabay label from the images. You may use information from the site for class projects and can cite mongabay as the source.
  • Where can I learn more about rainforests? Check the main rainforest site.
  • Is this web site credible? Mongabay is the world's most popular source for information on tropical forests. The site is highly acclaimed by a number of the world's leading tropical scientists. See more answers at our frequently asked questions page.