Endangered relative of the hedgehog may be thriving in Vietnam

Cao Bang

The Hainan gymure may be common here

Alexei V. Abramov

The Hainan gymnure is a bizarre, poorly understood hedgehog-like mammal, previously thought to live only on the island of Hainan off China’s southern coast. But recently, scientists found the mammal in Vietnam – hundreds of kilometres away – where it may actually be relatively common.

Gymnures and moonrats are close relatives of the winsome spiky hedgehogs. But, lacking prickles, they resemble rats or opossums. They often reek strongly of garlic or ammonia due to their potent, territory-marking scent glands. Native to Southeast Asian forests, the animals are …