Dalat gymnure
| Dalat gymnure | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Family: | Erinaceidae |
| Genus: | Hylomys |
| Species: | H. macarong
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hylomys macarong Hinckley, Lunde, & Hawkins, 2023
| |
The Dalat gymnure (Hylomys macarong) is a gymnure that was described formally for the first time in 2023. It is known from Dalat, Vietnam.[1][2] The specific name macarong derived from the Vietnamese word for vampire, Ma cà rồng, as a tribute to the prominent long fangs, specifically the first upper incisors, that distinguish mature males of this species.[1]
Discovery and taxonomy
The Dalat gymnure was described as a member of the genus Hylomys, part of the subfamily Galericinae that includes the gymnures and moonrats, in a 2023 study led by National Museum of Natural History researcher Arlo Hinckley. The new species was identified through analysis of DNA and physical characteristics.[3] The study placed H. macarong as closely related to the northern short-tailed gymnure (Hylomys peguensis).[1] The specific name, macarong, was derived from the Vietnamese word for vampire, Ma cà rồng.[4] It was noted that several specimens belonging to the species had been in museum collections since 1961.[3]
Description
The Dalat gymnure is a medium-sized gymnure, having average head and body length of 138.4 millimetres (5.45 in). Males have rusty-coloured chest fur, and all individuals lack the white colour around the rim of the ear present in the northern short-tailed gymnure.[1] It has dark brown fur on most of its body and long, pointed incisors that have as of yet unclear purpose, though it is speculated that they play a part in sexual selection, as the incisors of males are generally larger.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d Hinckley, A.; Camacho-Sanchez, M.; et al. (2023). "An integrative taxonomic revision of lesser gymnures (Eulipotyphla: Hylomys) reveals five new species and emerging patterns of local endemism in Tropical East Asia". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 202 (2): zlad177. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad177.
- ^ "Hylomys macarong (id=1006796)". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists.
- ^ a b c "Smithsonian-led Study Reveals Five New Species of Soft-Furred Hedgehogs From Southeast Asia". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ^ "234 new species discovered in the Greater Makong Region". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 29 July 2025.