The normally oblique spines become erect, and the animal is transformed into a ball of formidable sharp spines that completely protect the vulnerable head, appendages, and soft belly. As the animal curls, this muscle and several smaller connecting muscles contract the upperparts into a bag (like a drawstring) into which the head, body, and legs are drawn.
“Rolling up” is made possible primarily by a muscle that encircles the body from neck to rump along the sides of the body just beneath the skin and within which the peripheral spines are embedded. Hedgehogs crouch, hiss, and erect their spines at the slightest danger, but their best defense is to curl into a protective ball. Would you have a pet with spines? What about one that can fit in your hand, but scares the kids next door? See how much you know about the unconventional animals people keep as pets in this quiz. Hearing and smell, however, are acute the ears are conspicuous, and the tapered, mobile muzzle ends in a moist, hairless nose. Although the eyes are large, vision is poor. The limbs are thin and very short, but the feet are large and bear long, curved claws (the first toe is small or absent in Atelerix). The face may be white, brownish, or exhibiting a masked pattern. The underside is covered by a sparse, coarse coat, ranging from white to black (sometimes mottled), depending upon the species. The cream-coloured spines are banded with brown and black, and coloration of the upperparts ranges from speckled cream to brown, depending upon the width of the pigmented bands some individuals are black (melanistic). The short, stocky body is densely covered with spines except for the underside, legs, face, and ears. European hedgehogs are kept as pets, as is the African pygmy hedgehog ( Atelerix albiventris).Īll hedgehogs are similar in body form, but some desert species have larger ears and longer legs. In addition to the three species of Eurasian hedgehogs (genus Erinaceus), there are four African hedgehogs (genus Atelerix), six desert hedgehogs (genus Hemiechinus), and two steppe hedgehogs (genus Mesechinus). Body length is 14 to 30 cm (5.5 to 12 inches), and there is a stumpy and sparsely furred tail measuring 1 to 6 cm. Most species weigh under 700 grams (1.5 pounds), but the common western European hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus) can grow to 1,100 grams. Hedgehog, (subfamily Erinaceinae), any of 15 Old World species of insectivores possessing several thousand short, smooth spines.