Five New Species of Soft-Furred Hedgehogs Identified in Southeast Asia

Smithsonian Scientists' Discovery Highlights Potential for New Discoveries in Well-Studied Animal Groups

Scientists at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History have identified five new species of soft-furred hedgehogs from Southeast Asia.
The two entirely new species, named Hylomys vorax and H. macarong, are endemic to the endangered Leuser ecosystem in North Sumatra and Southern Vietnam, respectively.
The other three species, previously considered subspecies, have been upgraded to species level due to significant genetic and physical divergence.
The discovery highlights the ongoing potential for new discoveries in well-studied animal groups like mammals when modern techniques such as DNA analysis are applied to museum collections.
The identification of these new species could aid in prioritizing conservation funding to maximize biodiversity, particularly in areas like Southeast Asia which has the highest rates of deforestation in the world.