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Western European hedgehog, common hedgehog - ERINACEUS EUROPAEUS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Hedgehog": "Hedgehog" refers to either the fact that the animal looks like a hedge, or likes to live in hedges. The "hog" refers to its pig-like snout. It is not closely related to either hedges nor hogs.
Description: A large, stout insectivore with short tail and short ears, the hedgehog's head, back, and sides are evenly covered with dense sharp spines. Its color is brown with yellow spine tips, paler on the face and underparts. Head and body are about 8 to 12" long, and its weight is about 2 lbs.
Location: British Isles and western Europe, Mediterranean islands and introduced into New Zealand.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Deciduous forest, open woodlands, grassy heath, scrub, and sand dunes.
Behavior: This common animal builds a nest of grass and leaves among tree roots or under a bush. It forages from dusk to dawn, noisily sniffing out worms, insects, snails, and small vertebrates, including snakes. Its eyesight is poor, but hearing and smell are acute. When alarmed it rolls into a tight, spiny ball for protection. A hedgehog will sometimes lick a strange object of pungent odor until its saliva becomes frothy, then with its tongue it licks its spines with the froth. The purpose of this behavior is unknown. Hedgehogs hibernate in cold climates. Similar, related species range throughout Africa and Eurasia.
Reproduction: Litters ot one to seven young, are produced twice a year. May-June and August-September. Gestation is 34-49 days. The offspring are weaned at one month.
Go to the Insectivores Page to get a general discussion of these animals.
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