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Hedgehog



         


For the anti-submarine weapon see Hedgehog (weapon); for the mathematical concepts see hedgehog (curve) and hedgehog (metric).

Atelerix
Erinaceus
Hemiechinus
Mesechinus

</table> A hedgehog is any of a wide variety of small mammals of the order Insectivora. They are easily distinguished by their quills, which are hollow hairs made stiff with keratin. Their quills are not poisonous, and the quills are not barbed, as they cannot be easily removed (unlike a porcupine). Hedgehogs are most closely related to gymnures, also to other insectivora such as moles, shrews, tenrecs and solenodons. A hedgehog's primary defense is to roll into a tight ball, causing all of the quills to protrude outward. They also make loud huffing and popping noises. This is an effective defense against most predators. As a result, hedgehogs have few natual predators, primarily birds (especially owls), and ferrets. Wild hedgehogs are sometimes killed by humans, particularly by road vehicles. Hedgehogs occasionally perform a ritual called 'anointing'. When they come across a new scent, they will lick and bite the source. They will then form a scented froth in their mouths and paste it on their quills with their tongue. It is rather amazing to see a hedgehog contort and lick the top of its head. This camouflages them with the new scent of the area and provides a possible poison or source of infection to any predator that gets poked by their quills. Hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal and feed on snails, worms, and insects. In areas that have hedgehogs in the wild, they are often welcome as a natural form of garden pest control. Many people leave food out to attract hedgehogs. When doing so, keep in mind that hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, but will eagerly eat cheese products and drink milk, making them sick. Dog and cat food is a better food than dairy, but it is often too high in fat and too low in protien. It is best to leave out only a small treat, leaving them plenty of appetite for the pests in your garden. Depending on the species, the gestation period is 40-58 days. The average litter is 3-4 newborns. Larger species of hedgehogs live 4-7 years in the wild (some have been recorded up to 16 years). Smaller species live 2-4 years (4-7 in captivity).
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European Hedgehog

The European Hedgehog, Erinaceus europeaus, is a mammal of the order Insectivora, about 20cm in length.

Unlike the smaller, warmer climate species, the European Hedgehog may hibernate in the winter.

This species has become a serious pest in the Western Isles of Scotland, where introduced hedgehogs eat the eggs of ground-nesting waders such as Snipe, Dunlin, Redshank and Lapwing.

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Domesticated Hedgehog

The Domesticated Hedgehog is a distant relative of the European Hedgehog. It is a cross-breed between the White-Bellied or Four-Toed Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) and the Algerian Hedgehog (A. algirus). It is smaller than the European Hedgehog, and thus is sometimes called African Pigmy Hedgehog.

Domesticated Hedgehogs may be kept as pets, whereas it is unwise to attempt to keep any other breed of hedgehog as a pet. They prefer a warmer climate (above 72 degrees Fahrenheit) and do not hibernate. Attempts to hibernate are commonly fatal.

It is illegal to own a hedgehog as a pet in many areas. Check with animal control before considering having a hedgehog as a pet.

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History

The common American holiday Groundhog Day was started in ancient Rome as Hedgehog Day and is still celebrated as such through much of the world. There are no native hedgehogs in America, so the early settlers chose the groundhog as a substitute.

The hedgehog was originally referred to as an urchin, which gives rise to other terms, such as calling an offensive child an urchin and the common sea urchin.

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List of species

Subfamily Erinaceinae (Hedgehogs)






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