Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Erinaceidae
- Genus
- Hylomys
Habitat
This species inhabits montane forests and high-elevation areas in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, often in dense undergrowth and near streams. It prefers cool, moist environments with plenty of leaf litter and vegetation for cover, typically at elevations between 1,000 and 2,500 meters.
Diet
The long-eared gymnure primarily feeds on insects such as beetles, ants, and earthworms, as well as other small invertebrates like spiders and centipedes. It forages nocturnally on the forest floor, using its keen sense of hearing to locate prey. Feeding occurs mainly at night to avoid predators.
Behavior
Long-eared gymnures are solitary and nocturnal, spending their days hidden in burrows or under logs and emerging at night to forage. They exhibit territorial behavior, marking areas with scent and avoiding direct confrontations. They are agile climbers and diggers, using their long ears to detect sounds in the underbrush.
Conservation Status
The IUCN has not assessed the long-eared gymnure, but habitat loss due to deforestation is a potential threat. Population trends are unknown, making conservation efforts challenging.