# Moonrat

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Species of mammal in the Erinaceidae family

Moonrat[1] Museum specimens of the two moonrat subspecies: E. g. gymnura (above) E. g. alba (below) Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Infraclass: Placentalia Order: Eulipotyphla Family: Erinaceidae Subfamily: Galericinae Genus: Echinosorex Blainville, 1838 Species: E. gymnura Binomial name Echinosorex gymnura (Raffles, 1822) Moonrat range

The **moonrat** (***Echinosorex gymnura***) is a southeast Asian species of [mammal](/source/Mammal) in the family [Erinaceidae](/source/Erinaceidae) (the [hedgehogs](/source/Hedgehog) and [gymnures](/source/Gymnure)). It is the [only species](/source/Monotypic_taxon) in the [genus](/source/Genus) ***Echinosorex***. The moonrat is a fairly small, primarily carnivorous animal which, despite its name, is not closely related to rats or other rodents. The scientific name is sometimes given as *Echinosorex gymnurus*, but this is incorrect.[1]

## Description

The moonrat has a distinct pungent odor with strong ammonia content, different from the musky smell of carnivorans.[3] There are two subspecies: *E. g. gymnura* is found in [Sumatra](/source/Sumatra) and the [Thai-Malay Peninsula](/source/Thai-Malay_Peninsula); *E. g. alba* is found in [Borneo](/source/Borneo).[4] In the former the head and frontal half of the body are white or grey-white; the remaining is mainly black.[5] The latter subspecies is generally white (*alba* means white in [Latin](/source/Latin)), with a sparse scattering of black hairs; it appears totally white from a distance. Those from western Borneo tend to have a greater proportion of black hairs than those from the east, but animals from [Brunei](/source/Brunei) appear intermediate.[4] Largely white *E. g. gymnura* also occur, but they are rare.[5]

Head and body length is 32–40 cm (13–16 in), tail length is 20–29 cm (7.9–11.4 in),[6] hind foot length is 6.5–7.5 cm (2.6–3.0 in) and weight is 870–1,100 g (1.92–2.43 lb).[5] The [dental formula](/source/Dental_formula) is 3.1.4.33.1.4.3 × 2 = 44.[4] It is possibly the largest member of the order [Erinaceomorpha](/source/Erinaceomorpha), although the [European hedgehog](/source/European_hedgehog) likely weighs a bit more at 1,000 g (2.2 lb) and up to 2,000 g (4.4 lb).[7]

## Ecology and habitat

Moonrats are nocturnal and terrestrial, lying up under logs, roots or in abandoned burrows during the day. They inhabit moist forests including mangrove and swamp forests and often enter water.[2][5] In Borneo, they occur mainly in forests, but in peninsular Malaysia they are also found in gardens and plantations. They feed on earthworms and various small animals, mostly arthropods. The moonrat is a host of the [acanthocephalan](/source/Acanthocephala) intestinal parasite *[Moniliformis echinosorexi](/source/Moniliformis_echinosorexi)*.[8]

## Lifespan

The lifespan of the moonrat is up to five years.[9]

## Conservation status

The moonrat is not considered a threatened species. The main threat to the moonrat is deforestation activities due to human development for agriculture, plantation, and commercial logging. Moreover, other demands from Penan in Borneo for food and traditional medicinal contribute to decreasing numbers of moonrats in Borneo.[10] The species is also found in protected areas, including Matang National Park and [Kuching Wetlands National Park](/source/Kuching_Wetlands_National_Park). Its IUCN status is Least Concern.[2]

## Economic importance

The [Penan](/source/Penan) in Borneo used to trade moonrat meat for other foods and goods among themselves and for money.[9]

## In culture

In Thailand, moonrat is known as *nhoo muen* ([Thai](/source/Thai_language): หนูเหม็น, pronounced [\[nǔː mɯ̂an\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Thai), lit. 'smelly rat'). The name refers to its rat-like appearance and the strong odor of its body, reminiscent of ammonia. Traditionally, it is believed that the bones of the moonrat can be used to protect against black magic, sorcery, and love charms.[11]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-MSW3_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-MSW3_1-1) Hutterer, R. (2005). ["Order Erinaceomorpha"](http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?id=13600055). In [Wilson, D.E.](/source/Don_E._Wilson); Reeder, D.M (eds.). [*Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference*](http://www.google.com/books?id=JgAMbNSt8ikC&pg=PA218) (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 218. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8018-8221-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8018-8221-0). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [62265494](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/62265494).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_11_November_2021_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_11_November_2021_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-iucn_status_11_November_2021_2-2) Cassola, F. (2016). ["*Echinosorex gymnura*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/40603/22326807). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2016** e.T40603A22326807. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T40603A22326807.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T40603A22326807.en). Retrieved 11 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-britannica_3-0)** [Moonrat](https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/391430) at the *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica)*

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-payne_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-payne_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-payne_4-2) Payne, J. and Francis, C. M. 2005. *A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo*. Sabah society, Malaysia [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9679994716](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9679994716).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-francis_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-francis_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-francis_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-francis_5-3) Francis, C.M. (2008). [*A field guide to the mammals of South-East Asia*](https://books.google.com/books?id=zWeS8A6nunIC&pg=176). New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. p. 176. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84537-735-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84537-735-9). Retrieved 2011-04-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Shepherd, Chris R.; Shepherd, Loretta Ann (2012). *A Naturalist's Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia*. Wiltshire, UK: John Beaufoy Publishing. p. 14. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-906780-71-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-906780-71-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Wood_7-0)** Wood, Gerald (1983). [*The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats*](https://archive.org/details/guinnessbookofan00wood). Guinness Superlatives. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-85112-235-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-85112-235-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Deveaux1988_8-0)** Deveaux, Timothy P.; Schmidt, Gerald D.; Krishnasamy, M. (1988). "Two New Species of Moniliformis (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae) from Malaysia". *The Journal of Parasitology*. **74** (2): 322–5. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/3282462](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3282462). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [3282462](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3282462). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [3128654](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3128654).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-americazoo_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-americazoo_9-1) [The Leading America Zoo Site on the Net](http://www.americazoo.com/goto/index/mammals/39.htm). americazoo.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-19. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090102121327/http://www.americazoo.com/goto/index/mammals/39.htm) January 2, 2009, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-websiteofeverything_10-0)** ["Gymnures and hedgehogs"](http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/mammals/Insectivora/Erinaceidae/). *The Website of Everything*. Retrieved 2012-12-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["พบสัตว์แปลกตัวคล้ายหนู หน้า-ปากเหมือนหมู"](https://www.sanook.com/news/903769/) [Unusual animal discovered – mouse-sized body, pig-like face]. *[Sanook.com](/source/Sanook.com)* (in Thai). 2010-02-24. Retrieved 2025-08-26.

## External links

[Wikispecies](/source/Wikispecies) has information related to ***[Echinosorex gymnura](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Echinosorex_gymnura)***.

- [Echinosorex gymnura](http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Echinosorex_gymnura.html) - Animal Diversity Web

v t e Extant Erinaceidae species by subfamily Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Infraclass Eutheria Superorder Laurasiatheria Order Eulipotyphla Erinaceinae (Hedgehogs) Atelerix Four-toed hedgehog (A. albiventris) North African hedgehog (A. algirus) Southern African hedgehog (A. frontalis) Somali hedgehog (A. sclateri) Erinaceus Amur hedgehog (E. amurensis) Southern white-breasted hedgehog (E. concolor) West European hedgehog (E. europaeus) Northern white-breasted hedgehog (E. roumanicus) Hemiechinus Long-eared hedgehog (H. auritus) Indian long-eared hedgehog (H. collaris) Mesechinus Daurian hedgehog (M. dauuricus) Hugh's hedgehog (M. hughi) Gaoligong forest hedgehog (M. wangi) Small-toothed forest hedgehog (M. miodon) Eastern forest hedgehog (M. orientalis) Paraechinus Desert hedgehog (P. aethiopicus) Brandt's hedgehog (P. hypomelas) Indian hedgehog (P. micropus) Bare-bellied hedgehog (P. nudiventris) Galericinae (Gymnures) Echinosorex Moonrat (E. gymnura) Hylomys Dwarf gymnure (H. parvus) Javan short-tailed gymnure (H. suillus) Bornean short-tailed gymnure (H. dorsalis) Max's short-tailed gymnure (H. maxi) Dalat gymnure (H. macarong) Northern short-tailed gymnure (H. peguensis) Leuser gymnure (H. vorax) Neohylomys Hainan gymnure (N. hainanensis) Neotetracus Shrew gymnure (N. sinensis) Otohylomys Long-eared gymnure (O. megalotis) Podogymnura Dinagat gymnure (P. aureospinula) Eastern Mindanao gymnure (P. intermedia) Mindanao gymnure (P. truei)

Taxon identifiers Echinosorex gymnura Wikidata: Q754046 Wikispecies: Echinosorex gymnura ADW: Echinosorex BOLD: 30400 CoL: 38L5Q EoL: 1178689 GBIF: 2437114 iNaturalist: 1370747 IRMNG: 11069866 ITIS: 633549 IUCN: 40603 MDD: 1003822 MSW: 13600055 NCBI: 162630 Observation.org: 83235 Open Tree of Life: 1027567 Paleobiology Database: 385327 Echinosorex Wikidata: Q10757917 Wikispecies: Echinosorex BOLD: 7280 CoL: 49MY EoL: 91263 GBIF: 2437113 iNaturalist: 43034 IRMNG: 1430093 ITIS: 633449 MSW: 13600054 NCBI: 162629 Open Tree of Life: 451124 Paleobiology Database: 99705 Viverra gymnura Wikidata: Q122750125 GBIF: 9545762 ZooBank: D8356C9C-BBEC-42C9-B22D-A0B9D1B8B2D7

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Moonrat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonrat) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonrat?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.