A new species of hedgehog, Brandt’s hedgehog, not so far found in India, has been recently discovered in Jammu and Kashmir, DNA analysis and morphological studies reveal.
About Brandt’s Hedgehog:
It is a species of desert hedgehog.
Scientific Name: Paraechinus hypomelas
Distribution: It is native to parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, with a range that includes Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of Turkmenistan.
Habitat:
It inhabits arid and semi-arid regions, including rocky deserts, scrublands, and dry mountain slopes.
The species is adapted to environments with sparse vegetation, loose or stony soils, and extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night.
It is often associated with areas that provide natural shelter, such as rock crevices, abandoned burrows, or dense shrubs.
It is still capable of digging dens when absolutely needed. It hibernates during colder weather.
Features:
It has a black brownish face with a few white hairs interspersed on the forehead.
They have large ears with a narrow base.
Both the dorsal and ventral surfaces as well as the limbs are usually blackish brown.
It has five short-nailed toes on each of its two front paws.
Its back paws have four toes each with nails that constantly grow long.
It is a faster runner due to lighter needle protection.
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