Mammals of the WorldDaurian Hedgehog
Mesechinus dauuricus
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Erinaceidae
- Genus
- Mesechinus
- IUCN status
- LC
- Distribution
- Russia|Mongolia|China
- Realm
- Palearctic
About this species
- Size
- 150–200mm
- Weight
- Usually around 600g; up to 1kg
- Habitat
- Semi-arid steppe and desert-edge habitats
- Range
- Northeastern Mongolia to Russia and northern China
The Daurian hedgehog is a small, solitary hedgehog measuring about 150–200mm. Adults commonly weigh around 600g, though large individuals may approach 1kg. Its spiny dorsal coat and compact body are typical of hedgehogs, and confident separation from the long-eared hedgehog should use ear proportions and detailed morphology rather than size alone. Mesechinus dauuricus was the first species described in its genus. (Wikipedia, general species account)
The distribution runs from northeastern Mongolia to the upper Amur Basin in Russia and adjoining Inner Mongolia and Manchuria in China. It occupies the semi-arid zone and hibernates through winter, as expected for a temperate hedgehog. A taxonomic revision confirms that the genus is centred in this region. The opened accounts did not provide a dependable species-level diet, litter size, or named Mongolian viewing site. (Mammal Species of the World; Ai et al. 2018)
Description: Wildlife of Mongolia guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)