Dinagat gymnure
Species of mammal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Dinagat gymnure (Podogymnura aureospinula) is a species of mammal in the family Erinaceidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.
| Dinagat gymnure | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Family: | Erinaceidae |
| Genus: | Podogymnura |
| Species: | P. aureospinula |
| Binomial name | |
| Podogymnura aureospinula Heaney & Morgan, 1982 | |
 | |
| Dinagat Gymnure range | |
Taxonomy
Podogymnura aureospinula was first described in 1982 by Lawrence R. Heany and Gary S. Morgan, based on specimens collected on Dinagat in the previous decade. The type specimen was collected at Plaridel in Albor Municipality. The species name aureospinula means "golden spine", referring to the spine-like fur on the Dinagat gymnure's back.[2] Genetic analysis suggests it is most closely related to P. intermedia.[3]
Description
Habitat and conservation status
Endemic to the Philippines, the Dinagat gymnure has been found on the islands of Dinagat, Bucas Grande, and Siargao.[1] Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.[4] While it has been found in several different types of forest, including second-growth forest and in fragmented forest near farmland, it is not found completely separate from forest habitats.[1]
Due to its relatively limited range and the threat of significant habitat loss across that range, especially deforestation due to logging and mining, it is considered Endangered by the IUCN.[1] The mammal is an evolutionary distinct and globally endangered species in the Philippines as identified by the Zoological Society of London in their EDGE species program, where it ranked 68th out of the thousands of mammal species known to humanity.[4]