Max’s short-tailed gymnure

Taxonomy

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Eulipotyphla
Family:	Erinaceidae
Genus:	Hylomys
Species:	Hylomys maxi

Not a ‘real’ hedgehog

Max’s Short‑tailed Gymnure is part of the hedgehog family (Erinaceidae), but unlike true hedgehogs, it belongs to the hairy hedgehogs or gymnures. These creatures are insectivorous and nocturnal like hedgehogs and share evolutionary roots, yet lack protective spines, cannot curl into a ball, and carry soft fur, not quills. Their body shape, small tails, and agility align them more closely with shrews than with their spiky relatives.

Natural range & habitat

This species inhabits hill and montane forests of southern Peninsular Malaysia and northern Sumatra, ranging from 100 to 2,000 meters elevation on Sumatra and 600 to 1,700 meters on the Malay Peninsula, with possible extensions into southern Thailand. It prefers cool, moist forest environments and is more abundant in higher-altitude settings than lower dipterocarp forests.

Physical traits

Max’s Short‑tailed Gymnure is a robust furry mammal, with body lengths around 12–16 cm, a short tail just a few centimeters long, and a weight ranging from 43 to 80 grams, making it larger than many of its relatives. Its coat is coarse and brownish on top, fading to a yellowish belly. The skull and teeth are more robust compared to closely related species, with distinctive molars and incisors reflecting its feeding adaptations.

Behavior & lifestyle

This species displays cathemeral activity, foraging at both day and night, and is commonly encountered alone or in small groups of two to three. Individual movement ranges are small, around 30–40 meters. They are terrestrial and move through forest litter sniffing and rootling with their long snout. Known for their elusive nature, they leave narrow runways through dense understorey.

Communication

Though poorly documented, Max’s Short‑tailed Gymnure likely relies on scent marking and possible soft vocalizations for interaction and territorial behavior. Their keen sense of smell and tactile awareness through whiskers are important communication tools in dense forest habitats.

Diet in the wild

Their diet is omnivorous and opportunistic, including insects such as beetles and crickets, earthworms, and in human-proximate areas, tapioca or bananas. Captive observations show willingness to eat fish, shrimp, or raw meat, but not much fruit. Their digestive and metabolic traits reflect adaptation to varied food sources and cooler highland microclimates.

Reproduction & life cycle

A female with two embryos was observed in March, and lactating females recorded between May and November, implying a protracted or seasonal breeding cycle. Further reproductive details remain unstudied.

Threats & conservation status

Max’s Short‑tailed Gymnure is not yet individually evaluated by the IUCN and remains listed under the broader “Short‑tailed Gymnure” category, which is considered Least Concern. However, its montane forest specialization makes it potentially sensitive to deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and climate change. It is present in several protected areas like Taman Negara and Kerinci Seblat.

This species in captivity

There are no known records of Max’s Short‑tailed Gymnure in captivity. Its specific habitat and dietary needs, along with its elusive behavior, render it unsuitable for typical captive environments.