GYMNURE

also called Hairy Hedgehog, any of five species of Asian mammals composing the subfamily Echinosoricinae of the hedgehog (q.v.) family (Erinaceidae). These ratlike animals lack the short, barbless spines of spiny hedgehogs but have coarse guard hairs. Their tails are well developed. Gymnures are extremely malodorous. An example is the common gymnure (Echinosorex gymnurus), which is also called moonrat, or Malayan rat shrew. It is typically coloured black, with whitish head and dark eye marks. The common gymnure is a large insectivore; its head and body may be up to 46 cm (18 inches) long, its naked scaly tail up to 30 cm (12 inches) long. Little is known of this nocturnal animal's habits.