Hedgehogs[1]
European Hedgehog
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Erinaceomorpha Family: Erinaceidae Subfamily: Erinaceinae G. Fischer, 1814
Genera
Atelerix Erinaceus Hemiechinus Mesechinus Paraechinus

A hedgehog is any of the small spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. The West European Hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus) or simply the European hedgehog, is a Hedgehog Species found throughout the Palaearctic Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates 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. Erinaceidae is the only living family in the order of the Erinaceomorpha. Johann Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim ( Grigorij Ivanovitsch Fischer von Waldheim in Russian) ( October 13, 1771 &ndash October 18, A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic UserPolbot. --> Atelerix is a genus of Mammal in the Erinaceidae family Erinaceus is a genus of Hedgehogs Hemiechinus is a genus of Hedgehogs Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands In Biological classification, family ( Latin This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used Erinaceidae is the only living family in the order of the Erinaceomorpha. There are 16 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to North America; those in New Zealand are introduced. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Hedgehogs have changed little over the last 15 million years. Like many of the first mammals they have adapted to a nocturnal, insectivorous way of life. As an Animal behavior, nocturnality describes sleeping during the Daytime and being active at Night - the opposite of the diurnal The name 'hedgehog' came into use around the year 1450, derived from the Middle English 'heyghoge', from 'heyg', 'hegge' = hedge, because it frequents hedgerows, and 'hoge', 'hogge' = hog, from its piglike snout. Middle English is the name given by Historical linguistics to the diverse forms of the English language spoken between the Norman invasion of ^[2] Other folk names include 'urchin', 'hedgepig' and 'furze-pig'.

Contents 1 Physical description 2 Diet 3 Reproduction and lifespan 4 Domesticated hedgehogs 5 Pest control 6 Hedgehog diseases 7 Human influence 8 Culinary use 9 Genera and species 10 See also 11 References 12 External links

Physical description

Hedgehogs are easily distinguished by their spines, which are hollow hairs made stiff with keratin. In biology spine or spiny may refer to Spine (botany, needle-like structures in plants Spine (zoology, needle-like structures Keratins are a family of fibrous structural proteins; tough and insoluble they form the hard but nonmineralized structures found in Reptiles Birds Their spines are not poisonous or barbed and, unlike the quills of a porcupine, cannot easily be removed from the animal. In the context of Biology, poisons are substances that can cause damage, Illness, or Death to Organisms usually by Porcupines are Rodents with a coat of sharp spines or quills that defend them from predators However, spines normally come out when a hedgehog sheds baby spines and replaces them with adult spines. This is called "quilling". When under extreme stress or during sickness, a hedgehog can also lose spines.

A defense that all species of hedgehogs possess is the ability to roll into a tight ball, causing all of the spines to point outwards. The scanning electron microscope ( SEM) is a type of Electron microscope that images the sample surface by scanning it with a high-energy beam of Electrons However, its effectiveness depends on the number of spines, and since some of the desert hedgehogs evolved to carry less weight, they are much more likely to try to run away and sometimes even attack the intruder, trying to ram into the intruder with its spines, leaving rolling as a last resort. This results in a different number of predators for different species: while forest hedgehogs have relatively few (primarily birds [especially owls] and ferrets), smaller species like the Long-eared Hedgehog are preyed on by foxes, wolves and mongooses. Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. The Owls are an order of birds of prey. Most are Solitary, and nocturnal, with some exceptions (e The ferret is a domestic Mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo. The Long-eared Hedgehog ( Hemiechinus auritus) is a species of Hedgehog native to Central Asian countries and the Caucasus mountains. A fox is an Animal belonging to any one of about 27 Species (of which only 12 actually belong to the Vulpes genus or 'true foxes' of small The grey wolf or gray wolf ( Canis lupus) also known as the timber wolf or simply wolf, is a Mammal of the order Carnivora A mongoose (plural mongooses) is a member of the family Herpestidae (although also used for some members of Eupleridae) a family of small

All hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal, although different species can be more or less likely to come out in the daytime. As an Animal behavior, nocturnality describes sleeping during the Daytime and being active at Night - the opposite of the diurnal The hedgehog sleeps for a large portion of the daytime either under cover of bush or grass or rock or in a hole in the ground. Again, different species can have slightly different habits, but in general hedgehogs dig out dens for shelter. All wild hedgehogs can hibernate, although not all do; hibernation depends on temperature, abundance of food and species. For the ability of certain operating systems see Hibernate (OS feature Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression

Hedgehogs have 5 toes on their front paws with short nails. However, on their back paws they have 4 toes with long, constantly growing nails. They have these characteristics because hedgehogs burrow.

Hedgehogs are fairly vocal, and communicate not only in a series of grunts and snuffles, but sometimes in loud squeals (depending on species).

Hedgehogs occasionally perform a ritual called anointing. To anoint is to pour or smear with perfumed oil milk water melted butter or other substances a process employed ritually by many religions and races When the animal comes across a new scent, it will lick and bite the source and then form a scented froth in its mouth and paste it on its spines with its tongue. It is not known what the specific purpose of this ritual is, but some experts believe anointing camouflages the hedgehog with the new scent of the area and provides a possible poison or source of infection to any predator that gets poked by their spines. Camouflage is a method of cryptic or concealing coloration that allows an otherwise visible Organism Anointing is sometimes also called anting because of a similar behavior in birds. In the Behavior called anting, Birds rub insects on their feathers usually Ants which secrete liquids containing chemicals such as Formic acid

Similar to opossums, mice, and moles, hedgehogs have some natural immunity against snake venom due to the protein erinacin in the animal's muscular system. Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere. A mouse (plural mice) is a small Animal that belongs to one Snake venom is highly modified saliva that is produced by special glands of certain species of Snakes. ^[3]

Hedgehogs perform well with other pets, including cats and dogs. They are occasionally threatened by these animals, though, but for those rare instances, the hedgehogs just roll into a ball until the threat is gone.

Diet

Although traditionally classified in the order Insectivora, hedgehogs are not exclusively insectivores but are almost omnivorous. The West European Hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus) or simply the European hedgehog, is a Hedgehog Species found throughout the Palaearctic The order Insectivora (from Latin insectum "insect" and vorare "to eat" is a now-abandoned biological grouping within the An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of Insects and similar small creatures Hedgehogs feed on insects, snails, frogs and toads, snakes, bird eggs, carrion, mushrooms, grass roots, berries, melons, and watermelons. Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described The word snail is a Common name that can be used for almost all members of the Molluscan class Gastropoda which have coiled shells in the This article is about the block cipher algorithm For the ultrafast laser pulse measurement technique see Frequency-resolved optical gating. A toad can refer to a number of Species of Amphibians in the order Anura. A snake is an elongate Reptile of the suborder Serpentes Like all reptiles snakes are covered in scales. In most Birds and Reptiles an egg ( Latin ovum) is the Zygote, resulting from Fertilization of the Ovum. Carrion (from the Latin caro, meaning meat refers to the carcass of a dead animal A mushroom is the fleshy Spore -bearing Fruiting body of a Fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source Grass is the common word that generally describes Monocotyledonous green Plants The family Gramineae ( Poaceae) are the "true grasses" and include ROOT is an object-oriented program and library developed by CERN. The word berry has two meanings one based on a botanical definition the other on common identification Melon is a term used for various members of the Cucurbitaceae family with fleshy fruit Watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ( Thunb) Matsum & Nakai family Cucurbitaceae) refers to both Fruit and Plant of a vine-like (climber In fact, berries constitute a major part of an Afghan Hedgehog's diet in early spring after hibernation. The Afghan Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus megalotis is a subspecies of the Long-eared Hedgehog native to Afghanistan and western Pakistan The hedgehog is occasionally spotted after a rainstorm foraging for earthworms. Earthworm is the usual name for the largest members of Oligochaeta (which is either a class or subclass depending on the author in the phylum Annelida In classical Although forest hedgehogs, most well-known to Europeans, are indeed mainly insectivores, this is not necessarily true for other species. Erinaceus is a genus of Hedgehogs

In areas that have hedgehogs in the wild, they are often welcomed as a natural form of garden pest control. Pest control refers to the regulation or management of a Species defined as a pest, usually because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person's Health Many people leave food out to attract hedgehogs. Although hedgehogs are lactose-intolerant, they will eagerly consume cheese, milk, and dairy products, causing illness. Lactose intolerance is the inability to metabolize Lactose, a sugar found in Milk and other Dairy products because the required enzyme Cheese is a Food made from Milk, usually the milk of cows, Buffalo, Goats or sheep, by coagulation. Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. Dairy products are generally defined as Foodstuffs produced from Milk. The common pet hedgehog (Four-toed Hedgehog) can however have a small portion of cottage cheese as a dietary supplement. The Four-toed Hedgehog ( Atelerix albiventris) or African Pygmy Hedgehog, is a small species of Hedgehog found throughout much of the south- Saharan Dog and cat food are better than dairy, but both are often too high in fat and too low in protein. Dog food is Plant or Animal material intended for consumption by Dogs or other canines Special types of dog food given as a reward and not as Cat food is formulated to address the specific nutritional requirements of Cats Although cats are obligate carnivores, most commercial cat food contains both animal It is best to leave out only a small treat, leaving them plenty of appetite for the pests in one's garden.

Reproduction and lifespan

Depending on the species, the gestation period is 35–58 days. The West European Hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus) or simply the European hedgehog, is a Hedgehog Species found throughout the Palaearctic The gestation period in a Viviparous Animal is the length of its Gestation. The average litter is 3–4 newborns for larger species and 5–6 for smaller ones. As with many animals, it is not unusual for an adult male hedgehog to kill newborn males.

The hedgehog's dilemma is based upon the apparent danger of a male hedgehog being poked while mating with a female hedgehog. The hedgehog's dilemma, or sometimes the porcupine dilemma, is an Analogy about the challenges of Human intimacy. In Biology, mating is the pairing of opposite- Sex or hermaphroditic Organisms for copulation and in Social animals also to raise their It states that the closer two people are to each other, the more they may hurt one another. However, this is not an issue for hedgehogs as the male's penis is very near the center of its abdomen (often mistaken for a belly button) and the female has the ability to curl her tail upward to the point that her vulva protrudes behind the rest of her body. The penis (plural penises, penes In Vertebrates such as Mammals the abdomen (belly constitutes the part of the body between the Thorax (chest and Pelvis. The navel (also called an umbilicus or colloquially belly button) is a Scar on the Abdomen, caused when the Umbilical cord is removed As such, the male doesn't have to get completely on top of the female when mating.

Hedgehogs have a relatively long lifespan for their size. Larger species of hedgehogs live 4–7 years in the wild (some have been recorded up to 16 years), and smaller species live 2–4 years (4–7 in captivity), compared to a mouse at 2 years and a large rat at 3–5 years. Animals that live under human care are in captivity. Captivity can be used as a generalizing term to describe the keeping of either Domesticated Animals ( Livestock A mouse (plural mice) is a small Animal that belongs to one Rats are various medium sized long-tailed Rodents of the superfamily Muroidea Lack of predators and controlled diet contribute to a longer lifespan in captivity.

Hedgehogs are born blind. Many believe that they are born without quills, which develop in the following days. ^[4] However, the quills are easily visible within hours of birth after the newborn hedgehog has been cleaned. ^[5]

Domesticated hedgehogs

Main article: Domesticated hedgehog

The most common pet species of hedgehog are hybrids of the White-bellied Hedgehog or Four-toed Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) and the North African Hedgehog (A. The most common species of domesticated Hedgehog is the African Pygmy hedgehog, a hybrid of the White-bellied or Four-toed Hedgehog ( Atelerix In Biology, hybrid has two meanings The first meaning is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa. The Four-toed Hedgehog ( Atelerix albiventris) or African Pygmy Hedgehog, is a small species of Hedgehog found throughout much of the south- Saharan The Algerian Hedgehog or North African Hedgehog ( Atelerix algirus) is a species of Mammal in the Erinaceidae family algirus). It is smaller than the West European Hedgehog, and thus is sometimes called the African Pygmy Hedgehog. The West European Hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus) or simply the European hedgehog, is a Hedgehog Species found throughout the Palaearctic Other species kept as pets are the Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) and the Indian Long-eared Hedgehog (H. The Long-eared Hedgehog ( Hemiechinus auritus) is a species of Hedgehog native to Central Asian countries and the Caucasus mountains. The Indian Long-eared Hedgehog ( Hemiechinus collaris) is a relatively small Hedgehog (~17 cm 200-500 grams native to India and Pakistan collaris).

Domesticated species prefer a warm climate (above 72°F/22°C but below 85°F/29. 5°C) and do not naturally hibernate. For the ability of certain operating systems see Hibernate (OS feature Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression They eat an insectivore diet. Commonly, this is replaced with cat food and ferret food and is supplemented by insects and other small animals. Today, many pet stores sell hedgehog mixes that are specifically formulated for hedgehogs. Crickets, mealworms, and pinkies (baby mice) are also favored treats. It is illegal to own a hedgehog as a pet in some U.S. states and some Canadian municipalities, and breeding licenses are required. A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government No such restrictions exist in most European countries with the exception of Scandinavia. Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well

The purchase of domesticated hedgehogs has seen a considerable increase in the last few years due to their apparently innocent and playful looks. Hedgehogs are difficult to maintain as pets due to their low resistance to climate and temperature changes, and their inability to adapt to enclosed environments.

Pest control

Hedgehogs are a powerful form of pest control. Pest control refers to the regulation or management of a Species defined as a pest, usually because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person's Health A single hedgehog can keep an average garden free of pests by eating up to 200 grams of insects each night. It is common throughout the United Kingdom to see people attempting to lure hedgehogs into their gardens with treats and hedgehog-sized holes in their fences. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

One problem with using hedgehogs for garden pest control is the use of chemical insecticide. While the hedgehog is large enough to resist most insecticides, it cannot withstand them if it eats many insects which have become full of the poison. This causes many hedgehog deaths where pet hedgehogs eat contaminated bugs within the house.

In areas where hedgehogs have been introduced, such as New Zealand and the islands of Scotland, the hedgehog itself has become a pest. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. In New Zealand it causes immense damage to native species including insects, snails and ground-nesting birds, particularly shore birds. Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described The word snail is a Common name that can be used for almost all members of the Molluscan class Gastropoda which have coiled shells in the As with many introduced animals, it lacks natural predators. With overpopulation, it kills off more insects than initially intended and expands its diet to include things such as snails, worms, and the eggs of wading birds. Attempts to eliminate hedgehogs from bird colonies on the Scottish islands of North Uist and Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides have met with considerable opposition. The ecological restoration of islands, or island restoration, is the application of the principles of Ecological restoration to Islands and island groups North Uist ( Scottish Gaelic: Uibhist a Tuath) is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Benbecula ( Gaelic: Beinn nam Fadhla peɲəˈvɤːlˠ̪ə is an Island of the Outer Hebrides in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast The Outer Hebrides, ( officially known for local government purposes by the Gaelic name Na h-Eileanan Siar) comprise an island

Hedgehog diseases

There are many diseases common to hedgehogs. ^[6] These include cancer, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disease. Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled Fatty liver, also known as fatty liver disease ( FLD) steatorrhoeic hepatosis, or steatosis hepatitis, is a reversible condition where Cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular diseases refers to the class of diseases that involve the Heart or Blood vessels ( arteries and

Cancer is very common in hedgehogs. The most common is squamous cell carcinoma. In Medicine, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC is a form of Cancer of the Carcinoma type that may occur in many different organs including the Skin Squamous cell spreads quickly from the bone to the organs in hedgehogs, unlike in humans. Surgery to remove the tumors is rare because it would result in removing too much bone structure.

Fatty liver disease is believed by many to be caused by bad diet. Hedgehogs will eagerly eat foods that are high in fat and sugar. Having a metabolism adapted for low-fat, protein-rich insects, this leads to common problems of obesity. Fatty liver disease is one sign, heart disease is another.

Hedgehogs uncommonly transmit a characteristic fungal skin infection to human handlers as well as other hedgehogs. This ringworm or dermatophytosis infection is caused by Trichophyton erinacei, which forms a distinct mating group within the Arthroderma benhamiae species complex. Ringworm (also called serpigo) is an infection of the skin characterized by a reddish to brownish raised or bumpy patch of skin that may be lighter in the center Dermatophytosis is a group of Mycosis infections of the Skin caused by parasitic fungi ( Dermatophytes) Description The Fungus genus Trichophyton is characterized by the development of both smooth-walled macro- and Microconidia. ^[7]

It is possible for a hedgehog's lung to be injured in such a fashion that air is trapped under its skin, causing it to inflate to enormous size. ^[8]

Human influence

As with most small mammals living around humans, cars pose a great threat to hedgehogs. Many are run over as they attempt to cross roadways.

Another common human-related fatality is pesticides. Hedgehogs that eat insects filled with pesticides will often form digestive problems and eventually die.

In 2006, McDonald's changed the design of their McFlurry containers to be more hedgehog-friendly. ^[9] Previously, hedgehogs would get their heads stuck in the container as they tried to lick the remaining food from inside the cup. Then, being unable to get out, they would starve to death. Domesticated hedgehogs display this behavior by getting their head stuck in tubes (commonly, toilet paper tubes) and walking around with the tube on their head. The most common species of domesticated Hedgehog is the African Pygmy hedgehog, a hybrid of the White-bellied or Four-toed Hedgehog ( Atelerix Hedgehog owners often refer to this as "tubing" and promote the behavior by supplying clean tubes. ^[10]

Culinary use

Hedgehogs are a food source in many cultures. Hedgehogs were eaten in Ancient Egypt and some recipes of the Late Middle Ages call for hedgehog meat. Ancient Egyptian cuisine covers a span of over three thousand years but still retained many consistent traits until well into Greco-Roman times Medieval Cuisine includes the Foods eating habits and Cooking methods of various European cultures during the Middle Ages, a period ^[11] Hedgehog meat is still acceptable in some societies, and there are folk-remedies that include it as an ingredient.

A method of preparation that has been used since ancient times is to cover a hedgehog with clay and bake it. The hedgehog is then removed and the clay cracked open, taking the spikes of the hedgehog with it, a practice that a common urban myth claims is widespread among gypsies. An urban legend or urban myth is a form of modern Folklore consisting of stories thought to be factual by those circulating them The Romani people (singular Rom, plural Roma as a Noun; also known as Romanies or Roma people) are an ethnic group with origins

During the 1980s, "hedgehog-flavoured" crisps were introduced in Britain, although the product did not in fact contain any hedgehog. A potato chip or crisp is a thin slice of Potato, deep fried or baked until Crisp. ^[12]

Genera and species

Subfamily Erinaceinae (Hedgehogs)^[1]

• Genus Atelerix
  • Four-toed Hedgehog, Atelerix albiventris
  • North African Hedgehog, Atelerix algirus
  • Southern African Hedgehog, Atelerix frontalis
  • Somalid Hedgehog, Atelerix sclateri
• Genus Erinaceus
  • Amur Hedgehog, Erinaceus amurensis
  • Southern White-breasted Hedgehog, Erinaceus concolor
  • West European Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus
  • Northern White-breasted Hedgehog, Erinaceus roumanicus
• Genus Hemiechinus
  • Long-eared Hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus
  • Indian Long-eared Hedgehog, Hemiechinus collaris
• Genus Mesechinus
  • Daurian Hedgehog, Mesechinus dauuricus
  • Hugh's Hedgehog, Mesechinus hughi
• Genus Paraechinus
  • Desert Hedgehog, Paraechinus aethiopicus
  • Brandt's Hedgehog, Paraechinus hypomelas
  • Indian Hedgehog, Paraechinus micropus
  • Bare-bellied Hedgehog, Paraechinus nudiventris

See also

• Hedgehogs in culture
• Hedgehog's dilemma
• Porcupines - rodents similar to hedgehogs
• Echidnas - members of the order Monotremata similar to hedgehogs

References

External links

• Hedgehogs (Species) at the Open Directory Project
• Hedgehog reference at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
• UK Mammal Society fact sheet - European Hedgehog
• Extensive Hedgehog Facts
• thehedgehog.co.uk
• hedgehogcentral.com

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