Mindanao gymnure facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mindanao gymnure
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Eulipotyphla
Family:	Erinaceidae
Genus:	Podogymnura
Species:	P. truei
Binomial name
Podogymnura truei Mearns, 1905
Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist.

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

The Podogymnura truei, also known as the Mindanao gymnure or Mindanao moonrat, is a small mammal. It belongs to the Erinaceidae family, which includes hedgehogs and gymnures. Gymnures are like hedgehogs but they don't have prickly spines. This animal is special because it's one of the oldest types of placental mammals still alive today.

The Mindanao gymnure lives only on the Mindanao islands in the Philippines. There are four types of gymnures in the Podogymnura group, and the Mindanao gymnure is one of them. They look a lot like the moonrat found in places like Borneo and Sumatra.

About the Mindanao Gymnure

Mindanao gymnures are warm-blooded animals that live on the ground. They are medium-sized, usually about 13 to 15 centimeters (5 to 6 inches) long. Their bodies are narrow, which helps them burrow through small spaces.

They have soft fur. On their back, the fur is gray mixed with reddish-brown hairs. Their belly has grayish-white fur with some brown. They have a long snout with long whiskers that help them feel things around them. They also use their strong sense of smell to find food and stay safe. Sometimes, they have black stripes or spots near their eyes.

Their tail is strong and about 4 to 7 centimeters (1.5 to 3 inches) long. It has some hair, and the skin underneath can look yellowish-brown and purple. Their back legs have less fur, and the skin looks peachy. They also have a special gland that makes a strong, unpleasant smell. This smell helps them scare away predators. Females are usually a bit bigger than males.

Diet and Behavior

Mindanao gymnures live on the ground, so they mostly eat earthworms, insects, and other small arthropods. Sometimes, they also eat fungi and fruit.

These gymnures are nocturnal or crepuscular. This means they stay in their burrows during the day. They come out to search for food at twilight (when the sun is setting) or at night. Since it's dark, their sense of smell is very important for finding food.

They move faster than hedgehogs but are not as good at digging. Mindanao gymnures like to live alone, except when it's time to have babies. They are also territorial, meaning they protect their living space. To mark their territory or scare away enemies, they release that strong, onion-like smell.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Mindanao moonrats usually live alone and protect their territory. They only come together during breeding seasons. Females typically have two litters of babies each year. Each litter usually has two young ones.

The babies grow inside the mother for about 35 to 40 days. After they are born, the mother takes care of them and feeds them her milk until they are old enough to eat on their own. On average, a Mindanao moonrat lives for about 55 months, which is a little over four and a half years.

Habitat and Environment

The Mindanao gymnure lives only on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. You can find them in the mountainous forests of Davao Norte, Bukidnon, and Davao del Sur provinces.

They like damp places and are often found near water. They are common in mossy forests, which are usually found at high elevations (2000 to 2900 meters or about 6,500 to 9,500 feet). They also live in primary forests at lower elevations (1300 to 2000 meters or about 4,200 to 6,500 feet).

You might find them in thick plants near streams, under moss-covered tree roots, or in grass beds by a lake. They also live near logs in fern-filled areas, among tangled tree roots, inside hollowed-out tree trunks, and near big rocks in valleys covered with ferns. These habitats are similar to where true shrews live. The Mindanao moonrat helps the mountain ecosystems by controlling the number of insects.

Threats to the Mindanao Gymnure

The biggest danger to the Mindanao moonrat is the destruction of its habitat. On Mindanao island, forests are being cut down for farming (called slash and burn), damaged by forest degradation, and logged. This habitat loss is happening mostly in lower forests.

However, since Mindanao gymnures mostly live in high-up forests, their current numbers are thought to be stable. Even though they are stable now, their future depends on the survival of Mindanao's forests.

Mindanao is a very diverse island with many different plants and animals. It's the second-largest island in the Philippines and has tall mountains. About 24% of the island is covered in forest. Sadly, about 29% of the forest has already been lost due to farming and logging. More forests are still being destroyed. For example, old forests are cut down to plant new trees for paper. Also, illegal logging happens even in protected areas. If forest destruction continues to reach higher elevations, it could affect the moonrats. For now, about 80% of their habitat is still untouched by humans because these animals don't have much commercial value.

Protecting the Mindanao Gymnure

The IUCN Red List says that Podogymnura truei is a species of "least concern." This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing. However, this status could change if their habitat destruction continues to get worse.

The best way to keep this species safe is to protect its forest home. There are also efforts to help nature and protect habitats in the Philippines. The country has environmental laws based on international rules, government orders, court decisions, local rules, and the 1987 Philippine Constitution.