Hedgehogs are a type of mammal known for its small body with a spiny coat and short legs. These small critters range from a length of 10 to 30 centimeters and weigh from 155 to 1,584 grams. When threatened, they roll themselves into a ball.
Hedgehogs can survive in many different habitats and can be found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand. They can live from 3 to 8 years in the wild and up to 10 years in captivity.
Breeds
African Hedgehogs
The typical breed variety in the U.S. is usually one of two African species of hedgehogs. The first type is called four-toed hedgehogs, and they originated in the southern part of Africa, mainly in the desert areas. They are between seven and nine inches in length and can weigh up to 24 ounces.
There is also a North African species that get up to 14 inches long and can weigh up to 35 ounces. This type of hedgehog is often called the Algerian hedgehog, and it has five toes on the back feet and a face that is longer in shape than the hedgehogs found in the southern part of Africa. Both of these types, however, have white bellies and quills that are dark brown in color.
Asian and Desert Hedgehogs
The breed called the long-eared hedgehog is found mostly in Afghanistan, Turkestan, parts of Mongolia, and in areas of the Middle East such as Iraq, Israel, and Iran. The long-eared hedgehog is the smallest type of hedgehog, weighing in at only around seven ounces – although the largest ones can weigh up to 24 ounces.
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It gets to roughly eight inches in length and has ears that are a bit different than other types of hedgehogs, being longer in length. It also has belly fur that is cream-colored or dark brown in color.
There is also a type of hedgehog that originated in the desert areas of Pakistan, India, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. This type has dark faces and sometimes a nose that is more pointed than other types of hedgehogs. They also have three subspecies and pale color.
European Hedgehogs
Native to the British Isles and other parts of Europe, the Erinaceus europaeus genus is mostly a countryside hedgehog, although they can also occasionally be found in suburban gardens.
Despite having an average lifespan of 14 years, the average hedgehog in many areas lives only about two years, mostly because they get hit and killed by automobiles and because they lose their habitat.
European hedgehogs are between nine and 14 inches long, and they weigh around five pounds when fully grown, making them the largest of all hedgehog breeds. They are almost always brown in color and have furry faces and bellies. They also eat animals such as snails, beetles, and slugs.
Wild Hedgehogs
All hedgehogs come from either Europe, Africa, or Asia, and they consist of four main types that encompass 15 different species. If you live in the Western part of the world, you are likely more familiar with the African and European species.
The European breed looks like the hedgehogs found in children’s books, which makes people want them more. In addition, the two African species are usually crossbred in the U.S. specifically to be pets.
There are other types of hedgehogs, of course, and since there are laws that control hedgehog breeding in the United States, the most popular ones tend to fall in just one of only a handful of hedgehog types.
Types of Hedgehogs
Amur Hedgehogs
Native to the southeastern part of Russia, as well as China and Korea, the Amur hedgehog gets to roughly one foot in length and is pale brown in color. It is a common hedgehog and has similar characteristics to many other types of hedgehogs. It is called the Amur hedgehog because it is found in the lowland China area near the Amur Basin.
These types of hedgehogs prefer habitats such as lowlands and valleys, as well as high grass and forests which are both coniferous and broadleaf. They are more active at night than the daytime, and they eat mostly earthworms and other invertebrates.
The Amur hedgehog usually lives for roughly eight years, and there are no major threats to this particular species.
Bare-Bellied Hedgehogs
Bare-bellied hedgehogs, or the Paraechinus nudiventris, were believed to be extinct until very recently when a few were found in India. Because of this, it is likely most people will never see a real bare-bellied hedgehog in their lifetime.
Speaking of extinction, check out our article “25 Most Popular Types of Dinosaurs”
These hedgehogs prefer areas that are dry, such as acacia and rocky areas. Their biggest threats seem to be agriculture, logging, wood fuel collection, and of course, urbanization. Bare-bellied hedgehogs grow to a little under a pound and nearly 10 inches in length, and they love scrubby jungles such as the ones found in southeastern India.
Brandt’s Hedgehogs
Also known as the Paraechinus hypomelas, Brandt’s hedgehog grows to about 10 inches in length and has large ears and a dark body. It usually weighs just a little over two pounds as well. It is found in various parts of Afghanistan, Yemen, and Pakistan.
If the Brandt’s hedgehog is attacked, it curls up in a ball, and it can also use a “jumping” action in order to surprise its attackers. It is a desert hedgehog and, therefore, prefers arid areas such as the mountains and the desert.
It also hibernates when it’s cold, and it derives its name from the man who discovered it, Johann Friedrich von Brandt of St. Petersburg.
Daurian Hedgehogs
The Daurian hedgehog, or Mesechinus dauuricus, lives in northern Mongolia and in Russia. In fact, in these countries, it is actually a protected breed, and it grows up to eight inches in length. It is quite common throughout the world, and there are no major threats to its survival, although they are rare in places such as Russia.
Their diet consists of bird eggs, small rodents, small reptiles, and nestlings, and it is believed that their spines are able to protect them from certain threats. Most Daurian hedgehogs live about six years and get up to a little over a pound in weight. They live in dens and are mostly found in steppes and forests.
