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A hedgehog is a spiny mammal of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction.
Description. Everyone is sure to know what a hedgehog looks like. The hedgehog’s back and sides are covered in 25mm (1 inch) long spines (which are really modified hairs). These are absent from the face, chest, belly, throat and legs which are covered with a coarse, grey-brown fur.
There are 17 species of hedgehog and they are found in Europe, Africa and Asia. In the UK they can live in a variety of habitats including woodland, farmland, parks and gardens. Hedgehogs are also well established in our urban habitat and can, somewhat surprisingly, survive very well in our cities.
Hedgehogs are a gardener's friend, as they eat beetles, caterpillars, worms and other invertebrates. Did you know as many as 10 different hedgehogs may visit a garden over several nights? This could mean 'your hedgehog' is actually a number of different ones visiting at different times!
Scientific name: Erinaceus europaeus. Family: Erinaceidae. Habitat: hedgerows, woodland edges, parks, gardens. Diet: invertebrates. Predators: badgers and occasionally foxes. Origin: native. What do hedgehogs look like? Hedgehogs are 20–25cm long and typically weigh up to 1.2kg.
Hedgehogs are one of Britain's most recognisable and well-loved wild animals. The European hedgehog is one of around 16 different species found throughout the world. They're also the species that are most often admitted to our specialist wildlife rehabilitation centres.
Hedgehogs are native to mainland Britain and are also found throughout northern and western Europe. Related and similar species are also found as far as north Africa, the Middle East and central Asia. There are 16 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and New Zealand.
The west European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus. These pages cover everything you could ever want to know about the hedgehog in Britain, including their distribution, behaviour, ecology and the threats that they face.
Discover how the hedgehog got its name. Learn why these garden dwellers sport their distinctive, spiny coat.
What do European hedgehogs eat? How long do they live and when do they hibernate? Find out with these hedgehog facts and discover more about this garden favourite.
