Deinogalerix

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Deinogalerix
Fossil range: Miocene

Extinct (fossil)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Erinaceomorpha
Family:	Erinaceidae
Subfamily:	Galericinae
Genus:	Deinogalerix

Deinogalerix koenigswaldi (from the ancient greek language: deino, terrible), was a member of the order Erinaceomorpha, which lived in Italy in the Miocene period. It was like a 60 cm spikeless hedgehog, and it occupied the same ecological niche as dogs and cats today.

The Deinogalerix remains were first found in rocks in southern Italy in 1973. It had a hairy body, a long, slim face, small pointed ears, a lengthy, tapering tail and long hairs.

It is believed that Deinogalrix was an insectivore, mostly feeding off beetles, dragonflies and crickets. But, it may also have hunted small mammals, reptiles and birds and even snails.

Deinogalerix lived in the late Miocene times. At that time, what is at present Italy, was then a group of small islands and only at a later date did majority of these join with the mainland. It is known fact that islands with creatures there sometimes grow to different shapes and sizes than they would elsewhere. So it is possible that Deinogalerix may have lived exclusively in that region. But we can not be sure until more scientific information arises.