Hedgehogs are mammals known for their sharp spines, which serve not only as defensive weapons but also as their most distinctive physical characteristic. They are nocturnal animals, relying on their excellent sense of smell and vision to hunt a wide range of prey, including fruits, fungi, carrion, and live prey such as worms, small mammals, and even venomous snakes (due to their immunity to snake venom). Hedgehogs belong to the family Erinaceidae. This article will introduce 16 major terrestrial hedgehog species and briefly discuss their relationship to sea urchins.
1. South African hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis)
The South African hedgehog lives in grasslands, shrublands, and gardens in southern Africa. It has a dark face, a white band around its neck, and white spines with brown stripes on its back. It measures 15–20 cm in length and weighs 260–600 grams, with five toes on each foot. Due to its endangered status, this species is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
2. Large-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus)
This species is widely distributed in the North African deserts, the eastern Mediterranean, and Central Asia. Its most distinctive feature is a pair of large ears, which help dissipate heat in hot environments. It measures 14–28 cm in length, has striped spines about 1.5 cm long, and its limbs are longer than those of other hedgehogs.
3. Moor hedgehog (Atelerix algirus)
The Moor hedgehog has a dark back, a pale white belly and face, and relatively long legs. It is small and slender, easily confused with the European hedgehog. It measures 18–25 cm in length and inhabits the Mediterranean coast of Spain, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, and North Africa. It primarily preys on insects, worms, and snails, and occasionally hunts small invertebrates.
4. Ethiopian hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus)
They measure 14–28 cm in length, with a dark abdomen and face, and spines about 2.5 cm long on their backs, some of which are wrinkled. This species of hedgehog inhabits the North African desert, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East. They can curl up into a ball, exposing all their spines for defense. Their main diet includes scorpions and snakes, and they are immune to these venoms.
5. European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
This species has a wide distribution, including forests, gardens, and shrublands in Europe, Scandinavia, and western Russia. It hibernates in tree cavities, leaf litter, or woodpile during winter. It measures 20–30 cm in length and can weigh up to 800 grams. This species is further divided into:
Western European hedgehog : It has a keen sense of smell and can detect food buried up to 3 centimeters deep.
Eastern European hedgehogs : extending from Asia to Germany, they prefer to build nests in grass and do not dig burrows.
6. Somali Hedgehog (Atelerix sclateri)
It resembles the white-bellied hedgehog in appearance, but has five toes on its hind feet instead of four. Its belly is white, while its limbs and underside are black. It is endemic to Somalia. The young are born with their eyes closed, and their spines are hidden under their skin, only becoming visible after birth.
7. Indian Big-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus collaris)
This species is widely distributed, from Libya, Iraq, and Egypt to Mongolia. They are skilled burrowers, capable of creating burrows up to 150 cm deep. They are about 17 cm long and weigh 200–500 grams. They feed on insects, snakes, bird eggs, and scorpions; females are sometimes seen cannibalizing their young. Males will perform a series of courtship rituals for several days to attract females.
8. Oriental Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor)
It has a light-colored body with a white ring around its abdomen. It inhabits rivers, wetlands, forests, grasslands, and the Eurasian steppe, including Germany, Russia, Poland, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. It was once classified as a European hedgehog, but later research determined it to be a separate species.
9. Balkan hedgehog (Erinaceus romanicus)
Similar to the Oriental hedgehog, but lacking the white ring on its abdomen. It can dig burrows and is distributed from Eastern Europe to Ukraine, Western Siberia, and the Adriatic islands. There are five subspecies:
E. roumanicus roumanicus
E. roumanicus bolkayi
E. roumanicus drozdovskii
E. roumanicus nesiotes
E. roumanicus pallidus
10. Naked-bellied hedgehog or Madras hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris)
This species has short, dark-colored thorns, while its abdomen and face are lighter in color. It lives in acacia shrublands and rocky areas in southern India. Once thought to be extinct, it still exists in parts of southeastern India.
The other 6 types of hedgehogs:
Manchurian hedgehog (Erinaceus amurensis) : Distributed in Northeast China, the Korean Peninsula, and the Russian Far East.
Gobi hedgehog (Mesechinus dauuricus) : mainly distributed in arid regions of Mongolia and Northwest China.
Indian hedgehog (Paraechinus micropus) : Small in size, distributed in arid regions of the Indian subcontinent.
Hugh's hedgehog (Mesechinus hughi) : Endemic to China, it lives in mountainous forests.
Brant hedgehog (Paraechinus hypomelas) : Found in the Middle East and India, it is relatively small and has a dark back.
African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) : One of the most common pet hedgehogs, native to Central Africa.
Are hedgehogs and sea urchins related?
Despite their similar names, hedgehogs and sea urchins are completely different in biological classification. Hedgehogs are mammals, while sea urchins are echinoderms. Both have spines for defense, but their structures and origins are quite different.
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