Echinosorex gymnura, known colloquially as the moon rat or gymnure, is one of the many fascinating creatures that inhabit the jungles of Southeast Asia.A close relative of the hedgehog, the moon rat likewise belongs to the order Insectivora and the family Erinaceidae.However, the family then splits into the sub-family Hylomyinae, which contains three separate genera and eight distinct species.The appearance and habitat of the moon rat are actually far more similar to those of various members of the order Rodentia, though its eating habits are more in line with its fellow insectivores.Ultimately, the taxonomic classification of this animal is useful only when considered along with other information regarding the animal’s ecological niche.
