Long-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus Gmelin, 1170

Borzongiin gobi 2013 Photo by D.Lkhagvasuren

Back and Flanks covered with spines; short and stocky legs. Similar in appearance to the Daurian hedgehog , but has a white belly, long snout and long ears 37-45 mm in length. Body length: 127-183 mm, tail length: 17-23 mm, hind foot length: 31-37 mm. Body weight: 400-700 g. Condylo-basal length: 41-46 mm. Nocturnal. Mates in mid-May, after emergence. Gestation period: 34-40 days. Produced 4-7 young in June/July. Life span: about 7 years. Dry river beds, dunes, oases, valleys with shrubs and grasslands in semidesert and desert zones.

( A Field guide to the Mammals of Mongolia, N. Batsaikhan, R.Samiya, S.Shar, D.Lkhagvasuren, S.R.B. King.)