News Animals

A new species of hedgehog stands out for its short spikes

Small, dark and adorable, the eastern forest hedgehog brings the species count to 19

Mesechinus orienta hedgehog

This hedgehog, spotted in China’s Anhui province, is a member of the newly identified species Mesechinus orientalis.

Z. Shi et al/ZooKeys 2023

By Maria Temming

Initially mistaken for one of its close relatives, a group of small, spiky mammals in eastern China has now been identified as a new species: the eastern forest hedgehog.

Researchers first scooped up one of these dark spike balls in the province of Anhui in 2018.