Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

About the Hedgehog

The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), is a hedgehog species found throughout the Palaearctic region, except in the Himalayas and North Africa. It is not commonly found above 60°N in latitude, except for Norway, Finland, Estonia, Sweden and the Northwestern-most parts of Russia.

This hedgehog is about 20 to 30 cm in length. Adult mass can range from 600 to 700 g after hibernation up to 1100 or 1200 g prior to hibernation; occasionally, they may reach as high as 1600 g. Males tend to be slightly longer and heavier than females.

The European Hedgehog lives in woodland, farmland, and suburban areas. It is nocturnal, and if alarmed will roll itself into a ball, protecting itself against potential predators with its spines.

Unlike the smaller, warmer climate species, the European Hedgehog may hibernate in the winter. It is omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of invertebrates, but preferring slugs, earthworms, beetles and other insects. The preferred arthropods are the millipedes Glomeris marginata and Tachypodoiulus niger as well as the ground beetle Carabus nemoralis. It is also known to eat frogs, small rodents, young birds and birds' eggs.

This species has become a serious pest in the Western Isles of Scotland, where introduced hedgehogs eat the eggs of ground-nesting waders such as Snipe, Dunlin, Redshank and Lapwing. It is also considered a pest in New Zealand where it preys upon the native giant snails (Powelliphanta), weta, and various other native invertebrates

Blonde hedgehogs have a rare recessive gene giving rise to beady, button-black eyes and creamy-coloured spines; they are not strictly speaking albino. They are extremely rare except on the Channel Island of Alderney and are nicknamed "Alderney Spike Girls". A population of around a thousand is believed to exist. They allegedly carry no fleas, and are a localised island variant of Erinaceus europaeus.

A low coverage assembly of the genome of Erinaceus europaeus was released by the Broad Institute in June 2006 as part of the Mammalian Genome Project.

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