Erinaceinae

Hedgehogs (Erinaceinae) are small mammals covered in spikes; They belong to the order Eulipotyphla, although in the past they were considered to be of the Insectivorous order, which is now obsolete. There are a total of sixteen species of hedgehogs divided into five genera; The only hedgehog that does not belong to those genera is the giant hedgehog, also known as Erethizontidae.

Hedgehogs live in Europe, Asia and Africa, they have also been introduced in America, New Zealand and Australia, but there are no endemic hedgehogs in Oceania or America. Two species live in Spain: the European hedgehog and the Moorish hedgehog, but in captivity the long-eared hedgehog is very common. Hedgehogs haven't changed much over the last fifteen million years. Like many of the first mammals, they have adopted a mainly nocturnal life and an insectivorous diet.

Features

The hedgehog is an insectivorous mammal that measures approximately 24 centimeters and weighs up to 1 and a half kilograms. Their backs are covered with spikes and the rest is covered with brown, black or white hair. They are solitary and territorial. They usually carry out a behavior called "anointing" which consists of filling objects with saliva to mark them. Their gestation lasts about 35 days and they give birth to 2 to 5 babies, which are weaned at 6 weeks. They have an average lifespan of 8 years.

Physically they are characterized by their spikes, which are hollow hairs filled with keratin to give them rigidity. The spines are not sharp as in the case of the porcupine (not to be confused with it) nor do they come off easily from the animal. However, during the first year of life, the young release their spines to replace them with the ones they will have. being adults. In long periods of stress or under some illness they can also lose them.

They have five fingers with long nails on the hind limbs, while on the front limbs they have five fingers with short nails. This is due to the burrowing habits of hedgehogs. Only white-bellied hedgehogs have four toes on their hind limbs.

Natural history

When threatened, hedgehogs are able to roll up into a ball of spikes. The effectiveness of this ability depends on the number of spikes they have. That's why desert hedgehogs, which have evolved to be less heavy, prefer to flee or even attack the intruder with their quills rather than rely on their coiling defense. Different defense methods bring with them different species of predators: while forest hedgehogs do not have excessive predators, mainly owls and ferrets, small species such as the long-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus are prey for foxes. or the wolves.

All hedgehog species are primarily nocturnal, although some may be more active during the day than others. They sleep for much of the day in the grass or in holes in the ground. Hedgehogs normally dig burrows to protect themselves. All species suffer periods of torpor; some hibernate in winter and others estivate in summer, depending on the species, temperature and abundance of food.

Hedgehogs make a wide range of sounds to communicate with, from growls to loud squeaks. They are a species very sensitive to noises and sudden movements. Every time they hear a different noise that they are not used to, they protect themselves with their quills by curling up into a ball and making a sound (like rapid breathing).

Did you mean: Todo el tiempo está olfateando y mueven la nariz de una manera muy particular (de un lado a otro).

Occasionally hedgehogs perform a ritual known as self-anointing. When sensing a new smell, the hedgehog will run to its source, smell it, and bite it. Then he will stick the smelly foam from his mouth on its thorns with his tongue. The nature of this behavior is still unclear but there is speculation that it may serve as camouflage. Babies perform self-anointing before even opening their eyes.^{[citation needed]}

Like possums, mice and moles, hedgehogs have some natural immunity against some of the snake venom through the protein erinacin in the animal's muscular system, although it is only available in small quantities and a viper bite can still occur. can be deadly. Additionally, hedgehogs are one of four groups of mammals known to have mutations that protect against another snake venom, α-neurotoxin. [Boars, honey badgers, mongooses and hedgehogs have mutations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that prevent the binding of snake venom α-neurotoxin, although these mutations developed separately and independently.

Olfactory sense

The olfactory regions have not been thoroughly studied in the hedgehog. In mammals, the olfactory part of the brain is covered by neopallium, which makes it difficult to expose. This difficulty is not insurmountable, since it varies from one species to another. Tests have suggested that hedgehogs share the same electrical activity as cats..

Diet

Although traditionally classified in the now abandoned order Insectivora, hedgehogs are omnivores. They feed on insects, snails, frogs and toads, snakes, bird eggs, carrion, mushrooms, grass roots, blackberries, melons and watermelons. Berries make up an important part of an Afghan hedgehog's diet in early spring after hibernation.^{[citation needed]}

Hedgehogs that enter areas inhabited by humans with outdoor cats have been observed feeding on the leftover food that the cats leave behind, which is usually wheat-based and with some mixture of chicken, turkey or fish. This does NOT mean that it is the right food for hedgehogs in captivity. [video:1]

Hibernation

During hibernation, a hedgehog's body temperature can drop to about 2 degrees Celsius (35.6°F). When the animal awakens from hibernation, its body temperature increases by 2-5 degrees Celsius (35.6-41.0°F) to its normal body temperature of 30-35 degrees Celsius (86.0-95.0°F).).

Reproduction and life expectancy

Depending on the species, the gestation period is 35-58 days. The average litter is 3-4 newborns for the largest species and 5-6 for the smallest. As with many animals, it is not uncommon for an adult male hedgehog to kill newborn males.

Hedgehogs have a relatively long lifespan for their size. The largest species of hedgehog live 4 to 7 years in the wild (some have been recorded as long as 16 years), and the smallest species live 2 to 4 years (4 to 7 in captivity), compared to a mouse at 2 years and a large rat at 3-5 years. The lack of predators and a controlled diet contribute to lengthening their life in captivity (8-10 years depending on size).

Hedgehogs are born blind, with a protective membrane covering their quills, which dries and shrinks over the next few hours. The quills emerge through the membrane after the hedgehog has been cleaned, or after the membrane falls off.

Did you mean:

Depredadores

Different species are prey for different predators: while forest hedgehogs are prey mainly for birds (especially owls) and ferrets, smaller species such as the long-eared hedgehog are prey for foxes, wolves and mongooses.

Hedgehog bones have been found in the pellets of the European eagle owl.

In Great Britain, the main predator is the European badger. European hedgehog populations in the UK are lowest in areas where badgers are numerous, and British hedgehog rescue societies will not release hedgehogs into known badger territories. Badgers also compete with hedgehogs for food...

Hedgehog species

• Gender Atelerix
  • Atelerix albiventris
  • Atelerix algirus
  • Atelerix frontalis
  • Atelerix sclateri
• Gender Erinaceus
  • Erinaceus amurensis
  • Erinaceus concolor
  • Erinaceus europaeus
  • Erinaceus roumanicus
• Gender Hemiechinus
  • Hemiechinus auritus
  • Hemiechinus necklaceis
• Gender Mesechinus
  • Mesechinus dauuricus
  • Mesechinus hughi
• Gender Paraechinus
  • Paraechinus aethiopicus
  • Paraechinus hypomelas
  • Paraechinus micropus
  • Paraechinus nudiventris

As pets

Some species were sold in pet stores as pets. In Spain, according to current regulations and the provisions of article 2 of Royal Decree 630/2013, with the date of entry into force August 2, 2013, which regulates the Spanish Catalog of invasive exotic species BOE: & #34;the distribution of African Dwarf Hedgehogs "Atelerix albiventris" is prohibited. and their hybrids, also applying the generic prohibition of their possession, transportation, trafficking and trade in live or dead specimens, their remains or propagules, including foreign trade.

In relation to pet animals acquired prior to the entry into force of this royal decree, in the fourth transitional provision: "Pet animals, exotic or domestic pets, and wild animals in Zoological Parks", it is established that:

- They may be maintained by their owners, although they must report, within a maximum period of one year, about said possession to the competent authorities of the autonomous communities and cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

- The owners must immediately report the accidental release of these specimens and will not be able to market, reproduce, or transfer these specimens.

They can coexist well with other animals such as dogs and cats. They are not difficult to maintain, but they require some special care due to their sensitivity to climate changes and their poor ability to adapt to closed spaces. Private breeding began in the early 1980s. It is considered that they can live up to eight years, but in Spain in practice there are very few cases of such long-lived hedgehogs, which usually actually die at four or five years.

The species sold as a pet is the African pygmy hedgehog, a hybrid of the African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) and the Moorish hedgehog (Atelerix algirus). i>). The latter is a native Spanish species and it is prohibited and punishable to have it in captivity, like the common hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). As a pet we also find the Egyptian or long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus), which is gradually becoming more common and may soon be as widespread as the African one.

Both species require a constant temperature of 25º to 27°C, so in winter it is very important to provide an individual heating system (house heating is not enough). If their body temperature drops too much, they may attempt to hibernate, and since they are not species prepared for this, it may cause their death.

Their diet should be based on specialized pellets for insectivores, supplemented with insects, fruits and vegetables. Their food should be controlled as they can gain weight and worsen their quality of life. What they like to eat the most are worms or tenebria. They should be fed once a day, preferably in the afternoon. If they have not finished that meal the next day, they should be removed until their next meal.

In the wild, hedgehogs travel several kilometers a day, so in captivity they require as much space as possible. If they do not have it, they will begin to stress and gain weight, which over time will cause liver problems. Therefore, a wheel like that of hamsters but on a large scale is one of the best ways to make them exercise and entertain themselves in their habitat. For a wheel to be suitable, it must measure at least 30 cm in diameter and not have bars that could amputate or injure its legs.

When you have them as pets, at first they are not very used to being touched; Little by little they identify odors and adapt to the environment they have been provided with. It is not necessary to bathe them, but it is necessary to disinfect their environment from time to time or as they see fit. It is good that, if they have a cage, they put some material to absorb their waste.