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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
African
hedgehog, four-toed hedgehog |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Insectivora |
| FAMILY: |
Erinaceidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Atelerix
albiventris (white belly) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
A
small mammal with white hair on its stomach and
hair modified into spines on its back |
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| SIZE: |
Adult
size is 17-23 cm (6-9 in.) long |
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| WEIGHT: |
Newborns
weigh about 10 g (0.3 oz.) and adults weigh 270-700
g (10-25 oz.) |
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| DIET: |
Insects,
crustaceans, small vertebrates, eggs, carrion, and
occasional plant matter |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
1-2
years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Approximately
10 years |
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| RANGE: |
Throughout
Central Africa |
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| HABITAT: |
Open
country with low growing vegetation |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
There
are 11 species of hedgehog native to Africa, Asia,
and Europe, and they have been introduced to New
Zealand. |
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| 2. |
Hedgehog
quills are not barbed or poisonous. However, hedgehogs
will apply a foamy saliva to their quills. This
may serve many purposes: an irritant to predators,
a natural insect repellent since they are unable
to clean their skin well, or an attractant to potential
mates. |
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| 3. |
A
hedgehog has a large muscle running along its stomach
which pulls its body into a tight, spiky little
ball for defense. |
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| 4. |
Large
owls and raptors with well-protected feet and sharp
claws are some of the only natural enemies of hedgehogs. |
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| 5. |
Hedgehogs
give birth to one to seven babies which are born
with the spines just below the skin. Spines start
to appear within 24 hours. |
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| Hedgehogs
help to control insect and vermin populations. They
show a high tolerance to toxins, both natural and
human-made. They have been known to consume many
animals whose toxins could be fatal to humans including
certain beetles, wasps, bees, and venomous snakes.
Hedgehogs are also a food source for some larger
animals. |
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|
|
| Macdonald,
D., ed. Encyclopedia of Mammals, Vol. 2.
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1985. |
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| Parker,
S., ed. Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals, Vol.
1. London: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1990. |
|
|
Smith,
A. "Husbandry and Medicine of African Hedgehogs".
Journal of Small Exotic Animal Medicine,
2(1). Gray Pub, pp. 21-28, 1992.
|
|
| Stocker,
L. The Complete Hedgehog. London: Chatto
and Windeos, 1987. |
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