Hemiechinus auritus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	EULIPOTYPHLA	ERINACEIDAE

Scientific Name:

Hemiechinus auritus

Species Authority:

(Gmelin, 1770)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Long-eared Hedgehog
Spanish	–	Erizo Orejudo

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Stubbe, M., Samiya, R., Ariunbold, J., Buuveibaatar, V., Dorjderem, S., Monkhzul, Ts., Otgonbaatar, M., Tsogbadrakh, M., Zagorodniuk, I., Amori, G., Hutterer, R., Kryštufek, B., Yigit, N., Mitsain, G. & Palomo, L.J.

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Temple, H. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
This species has a large population size and a wide distribution. No decline in population size has been detected, and there are no known widespread major threats. Consequently this species is assessed as Least Concern. However, taxonomic research is required and may result into this taxon being split into several different species; in that case reassessment will be necessary.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Hemiechinus auritus has a global range that extends from the eastern Mediterranean region, through southwest Asia to western Pakistan in the south; and from eastern Ukraine through Mongolia (Gobi desert), to China (Xinjiang).
Countries:	Native: Afghanistan; China; Cyprus; Egypt; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Israel; Kyrgyzstan; Lebanon; Libya; Mongolia; Pakistan; Syrian Arab Republic; Tajikistan; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is a widespread and common species across most of the distribution area, although some marginal populations are fragmented and declining (e.g., in Ukraine).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	H. auritus inhabits different types of dry steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. It prefers dry river valleys, gullies, forest shelter belts, abandoned irrigation ditches and shrubby areas, and often settles in oases and around human settlements (sometimes in cultivated habitats). It avoids tugais and high herbage. This mainly solitary, nocturnal species lives in burrows that it usually digs itself, although sometimes it occupies abandoned burrows of turtles, gerbils, foxes and otters. It hibernates in the winter and may also aestivate in hot, dry weather.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

H. auritus inhabits different types of dry steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. It prefers dry river valleys, gullies, forest shelter belts, abandoned irrigation ditches and shrubby areas, and often settles in oases and around human settlements (sometimes in cultivated habitats). It avoids tugais and high herbage.

This mainly solitary, nocturnal species lives in burrows that it usually digs itself, although sometimes it occupies abandoned burrows of turtles, gerbils, foxes and otters. It hibernates in the winter and may also aestivate in hot, dry weather.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	No major threats are known for most of the distribution area.

Major Threat(s):

No major threats are known for most of the distribution area.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its wide range. There are no specific conservation measures necessary for this species.

Conservation Actions:

It occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its wide range. There are no specific conservation measures necessary for this species.

Citation:	Stubbe, M., Samiya, R., Ariunbold, J., Buuveibaatar, V., Dorjderem, S., Monkhzul, Ts., Otgonbaatar, M., Tsogbadrakh, M., Zagorodniuk, I., Amori, G., Hutterer, R., Kryštufek, B., Yigit, N., Mitsain, G. & Palomo, L.J. 2008. Hemiechinus auritus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 May 2013.
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