KNOWING THE MOON RAT, AN ORIGINAL ANIMAL OF INDONESIA THAT IS RARELY KNOWN.

Saturday, November 05, 2022 Post a Comment

The Moon Rat in its scientific name is Echinosorex gynumra is a mammal that is still in the same family as the mini hedgehog, the Erinaceidae family.

The moon mouse has various other names, friends. Namely Moon Threshold Rat, Moon Rat, Hairy Hedgehog, and more commonly known as Moonrat.

At first glance, it looks like a mouse, but this animal is actually not a rodent, but this animal is still in the same order as the Shrubs and Mini Hedgehogs, the Order Eulipotyphla. While the Rat comes from the Order Rodentia.

The body length of this animal is approximately 40 cm, while the tail itself is approximately 29 cm.

Then, for its own physical characteristics, it has a long snout like a shrew, and the hair on the head to the front of the body is white and gray, while the back of the body is black.

For their habitat, these animals are located in slightly wet places such as primary and secondary forests, mangrove forests, and plantations.

These animals are active at night, aka nocturnal, and their main food is insects (Insectivora) such as grasshoppers, scorpions, centipedes, crickets. But sometimes these animals also like to eat frogs and worms.

Unique fact, this animal can emit a very piercing smell, namely the smell of high Ammonia Aroma.

The function of the odor released from its body is in addition to defending itself, as well as to mark its territory, considering that this animal is very territorial.

Next is this animal is often likened to a primitive rat, namely Solenodon because sometimes it often salivates.

For the distribution of life, this animal can be found in the countries of the Malay Peninsula, namely from Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, to Indonesia.

In Indonesia alone this animal can be found in Sumatra and Kalimantan. And in Indonesia, there is a difference between moon rats, friends.

For those from Kalimantan, usually the dominant white cream color and the scientific name of the subspecies is Echinosorex gymnura alba. While the one in Sumatra is dominated by black.

For its conservation status by IUCN is Least Concern or Low Risk, while by the Government in Indonesia this animal is not included in the list of Protected Animals.