| Algerian Hedgehog[1] | ||||||||||||||
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| Atelerix algirus (Lereboullet, 1842) |
The Algerian Hedgehog or North African Hedgehog (Atelerix algirus) is a species of mammal in the Erinaceidae family. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands Erinaceidae is the only living family in the order of the Erinaceomorpha. It is found in Algeria, France, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia. Algeria ( ar [[Arabic]] الجزائر, Al Jaza'ir ælʤæˈzæːʔir Amazigh: ⴷⵥⴰⵢⴻⵔ Dzayer) officially the People's This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands Morocco (المغرب "al-Maghrib" officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية is a country located in North Africa Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Tunisia (تونس Tūnis officially the Tunisian Republic ( is a country located in North Africa. Little is known about this species of hedgehog, even though the most common breed of domesticated hedgehogs is a result of crossing a Four-toed Hedgehog with an Algerian Hedgehog. The most common species of domesticated Hedgehog is the African Pygmy hedgehog, a hybrid of the White-bellied or Four-toed Hedgehog ( Atelerix The Four-toed Hedgehog ( Atelerix albiventris) or African Pygmy Hedgehog, is a small species of Hedgehog found throughout much of the south- Saharan [3] 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 France and Spain (including the Canary Islands). A hedgehog is any of the small spiny Mammals of the Subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Canary Islands ( English pronunciation kəˈnæriː ˈaɪləndz Spanish: Islas Canarias, ˈizlas kaˈnarjas are a Spanish Of the four African species of hedgehogs, the Algerian Hedgehog is the only one of these hedgehogs that can be found outside the continent of Africa. [4] Because the Algerian Hedgehog has such a wide habitat range and has a seemingly stable population, both in the wild and in the domesticated capacity, it does not appear to be at risk at this time.
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Physical description
The Algerian Hedgehog closely resembles the West European Hedgehog, however, there are several distinct differences between the two species. The West European Hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus) or simply the European hedgehog, is a Hedgehog Species found throughout the Palaearctic The Algerian Hedgehog tends to be smaller than its European counterpart, measuring anywhere from 200 to 250mm long. [2] However, it is larger than the other African species of hedgehogs and has a longer snout and longer legs, making it a faster runner. Its face is light in color, usually appearing to be white, and the legs and head are brown. The underbelly of this animal can vary in color, and is often either brown or white in color. The ears on the Algerian Hedgehog are highly visible on the head of the animal and are large in size. The body is covered in soft spines that are primarily white with darker banding. [5] The Algerian Hedgehog is most distinguishable from physically similar relatives by the lack of spines on the crown of the head, meaning a lack of the widow's peak. [6]
Habitat
Very little is actually known about the preferred habitat of the Algerian Hedgehog. It has been found in Mediterranean conifer and mixed forest climates as are present in southern mountainous regions of Spain and northern Africa. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. [7] In northern Africa, it can be found from Morocco to Libya, but is not able to survive in dry desert regions around this area. Morocco (المغرب "al-Maghrib" officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية is a country located in North Africa Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab It can be found in other warmer regions as well, including parts of France, the Canary Islands, and the Balearics. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Canary Islands ( English pronunciation kəˈnæriː ˈaɪləndz Spanish: Islas Canarias, ˈizlas kaˈnarjas are a Spanish The Balearic Islands ( Catalan and official Illes Balears; Spanish: Islas Baleares) are an Archipelago in the western Mediterranean Within these regions, it can often be spotted in garden and park areas. [5]
Reproduction
The gestation period for this species of hedgehog ranges from 30 to 40 days and the litter size can vary between 3 to 10 hoglets. This species often produces two litters in a season. The hoglets generally weigh between 12 to 20 grams each. [5] The season for reproduction in the Algerian hedgehog is from October to March. It reaches sexually maturity at about eight to ten weeks of age, and does not mate for life. That is, this hedgehog does not participate in pair bonding. In Biology, a pair bond is the strong affinity that develops in some Species between the Male and Female in a breeding pair [8]
See also
References
- ^ Hutterer, Rainer (2005-11-16). Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published in Wilson, D. E. , and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 212-213. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ a b Insectivore Specialist Group (1996). Atelerix algirus. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List) created in 1963 is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global IUCN 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross.
- ^ Wikipedia. org. Domesticated Hedgehog 12 October 2007. The most common species of domesticated Hedgehog is the African Pygmy hedgehog, a hybrid of the White-bellied or Four-toed Hedgehog ( Atelerix Retrieved 17 October 2007.
- ^ IUCN (1995). in Compiled by Stone, R. David, IUCN/SSC Insectivore, Tree Shrew and Elephant Shrew Specialist Group: Sub-family Erinaceinae Eurasian Insectivores and Tree Shrews - Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN, vii + 164 pp. ISBN 2-8317-0062-0.
- ^ a b c Matthew M. Vriends (2000). Hedgehogs. Barron's Educational Series, 64 pages. ISBN 0764113259.
- ^ Nick Lloyd (2007). Alberian hedgehog. IberiaNature.
- ^ World Wildlife Fund (Content Partner); Mark McGinley (Topic Editor) (2007-3-12). "Mediterranean conifer and mixed forests", in Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland: Encyclopedia of Earth. Washington, D. C. : Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment.
- ^ Animal World (2007). African hedgehog. African Pygmy Hedgehog.
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