Order: Erinaceomorpha

Family: Erinaceidae

 

Size: up to 12.7-17.7 cm in length.

Weight: adult male: 435 g; adult female: 312 g.

 

Key Features: It is known for its masked face, dark with a white top, somewhat similar to a raccoon. Its colour is predominantly brown with a few lighter shades of brown.

 

Breeding: The female gives birth to up to three cubs and raises them on her own without the help of the male.

 

Diet: feeds on insects, frogs, toads, bird eggs, snakes, and scorpions.

 

Habitat:  lives in sandy desert areas but can be found in other environments.

 

Habits:  Although it doesn't hibernate, it is still capable of slowing down its metabolism when food is scarce. When in danger it rolls up into a ball. The upper side of the body has spines to protect from predators. It is capable of digging burrows about 457 mm long. They use these to sleep in and to stay hidden from danger. 

 

Conservation Status: Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

 

Distribution in the GoK: reported along the coast of Gulf of Kachchh.

 

 

 

 

 

References:

Paraechinus micropus. In Animal Diversity Web, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. Retrieved on July 15, 2014 from http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Paraechinus_micropus/

 

IUCN Red List. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/40609/0