Hedgehog
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There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and New Zealand (by introduction). There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas.
Hedgehogs are easily recognized by their spines, which are hollow hairs made stiff with keratin. Their spines are not poisonous or barbed and, unlike the quills of a porcupine, cannot easily be removed from the hedgehog.
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North African hedgehog |
Common hedgehog
phylum | Chordata | The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), or common hedgehog, is found in northern and western Europe. It is a common and well-known species, and is a favourite in European gardens, both for its unique, cute appearance and its insectivorous habits.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Hedgehog |
class | Mammalia | |
infraclass | Eutheria | |
clade | Eulipotyphla | |
order | Erinaceomorpha | |
family | Erinaceidae | |
genus | Erinaceus | |
species | E. europaeus |
Four-toed hedgehog
phylum | Chordata | The four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), or African pygmy hedgehog, is a species of hedgehog found throughout much of central and eastern Africa.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Hedgehog |
class | Mammalia | |
infraclass | Eutheria | |
clade | Eulipotyphla | |
order | Erinaceomorpha | |
family | Erinaceidae | |
genus | Atelerix | |
species | A. albiventris |
Long-eared hedgehog
phylum | Chordata | The long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) is a species of hedgehog native to Central Asian countries and some countries of the Middle East. The long-eared hedgehog lives in burrows that it either makes or finds and is distinguished by its long ears. It is considered one of the smallest Middle Eastern hedgehogs.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Hedgehog |
class | Mammalia | |
infraclass | Eutheria | |
clade | Eulipotyphla | |
order | Erinaceomorpha | |
family | Erinaceidae | |
genus | Atelerix | |
species | A. albiventris |
North African hedgehog
phylum | Chordata | The North African hedgehog (Atelerix algirus) or Algerian hedgehog, is a mammal species in the family Erinaceidae native to Algeria, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia. Little is known about this hedgehog, even though the most common breed of domesticated hedgehogs is a result of crossing a four-toed hedgehog with a North African hedgehog. Because this species of hedgehog is native to Africa, it has been suggested that it was introduced by humans to the other countries where it is now found, including Spain and the Canary Islands.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Hedgehog |
class | Mammalia | |
infraclass | Eutheria | |
clade | Eulipotyphla | |
order | Erinaceomorpha | |
family | Erinaceidae | |
genus | Atelerix | |
species | A. algirus |