Creature with multi-colored spikes and whiskers found in China is new species. See it

Brendan Rascius
·2 min read
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In the forests and scrublands of China, researchers recently discovered a new species — one that you wouldn’t want to step on.

The newfound creature is a type of hedgehog that is covered in pointed, multi-colored spines, according to a study published on Nov. 28 in the journal ZooKeys.

Between 2018 and 2023, seven specimens were collected from the eastern provinces of Anhui and Zhejiang. The animals were euthanized and their tissue was analyzed at the Anhui Normal University.

Specimens were collected in Anhui and Zhejiang, provinces in eastern China, researchers said.
Specimens were collected in Anhui and Zhejiang, provinces in eastern China, researchers said.

DNA analysis revealed the specimens belonged to a distinct, previously unknown species in the genus Mesechinus, which is composed of four hedgehog species found in China, Mongolia and Russia.

The new species, the only of its genus found in eastern China, was given the name Mesechinus orientalis after the Latin word oriens, which means “the east.”

It’s distinguished from the other members of the genus by its small size — it measures about 7 inches long, researchers, who are affiliated with multiple Chinese universities, said.

The species is distinguished by its small size and short spikes, researchers said.
The species is distinguished by its small size and short spikes, researchers said.

It also has short, multi-colored spines, measuring about three-quarters of an inch in length.

“There are four color rings on the spine from the base to the tip,” researchers said. “Two-thirds of the length is white at the base, followed by a 3–4 mm black ring, a narrow light ring, and a black tip.”

The small, whiskered animal is also differentiated by its diminutive ears and subtle differences in head shape, researchers said.

“The discovery of a new species of Mesechinus in eastern China has greatly expanded the known range of the genus and is vital in understanding the macroevolution of the genus,” researchers said.

Several years ago, the genus was only thought to include two species, but the number was revised to four upon analysis, according to a 2018 study published in the journal Zoological Research.

Worldwide, there are 16 known species of hedgehog within five different genera, according to the San Diego Zoo. Their distinctive spines, also known as quills, are made from keratin and serve as a defensive mechanism.

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