Small Animal That Looks Like a Porcupune

Small Animal That Looks Like a Porcupune

Subfamily of minor spiny mammals

Hedgehogs [i] Temporal range: Tardily Eocene – Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg Northward
European hedgehog
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Eulipotyphla
Family:	Erinaceidae
Subfamily:	Erinaceinae G. Fischer, 1814
Genera
Atelerix Erinaceus Hemiechinus Mesechinus Paraechinus

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. In that location are no hedgehogs native to Commonwealth of australia and no living species native to the Americas. However, the extinct genus Amphechinus was in one case nowadays in N America.

Hedgehogs share distant ancestry with shrews (family Soricidae), with gymnures maybe existence the intermediate link, and they have changed piddling over the last fifteen million years. ^[two] Similar many of the first mammals, they have adapted to a nocturnal way of life. ^[3] Their spiny protection resembles that of porcupines, which are rodents, and echidnas, a blazon of monotreme.

Etymology

The name hedgehog came into utilize around the year 1450, derived from the Middle English heyghoge, from heyg, hegge ("hedge"), because information technology frequents hedgerows, and hoge, hogge ("hog"), from its piglike snout. ^[4] Other names include urchin, hedgepig and furze-pig.

Description

Hedgehogs are easily recognized by their spines, which are hollow hairs made stiff with keratin. ^[5] Their spines are not poisonous or barbed and, dissimilar the quills of a porcupine, do not easily disassemble from their bodies. However, the immature animal's spines normally fall out equally they are replaced with adult spines. This is called "quilling". Spines can also shed when the animate being is diseased or under extreme stress. Hedgehogs are usually brown, with pale tips to the spines, though blonde hedgehogs are found on the Aqueduct Island of Alderney.

A skin-skeletal preparation

Close-up of the final 5 mm of a hedgehog spine (SEM microscopy)

A hedgehog that feels threatened can gyre into a tight ball.

All species of hedgehogs can roll into a tight ball in self-defense, causing all of the spines to indicate outwards. ^[five] The hedgehog'southward back contains 2 large muscles that control the position of the quills. When the fauna is rolled into a ball, the quills on the back protect the tucked face, feet, and belly, which are not quilled. Since the effectiveness of this strategy depends on the number of spines, some desert hedgehogs that evolved to acquit less weight are more likely to abscond or set on, ramming an intruder with the spines; rolling into a spiny ball for those species is a terminal resort. The various species are prey to different predators: while forest hedgehogs are prey primarily to birds (especially owls) and ferrets, smaller species like the long-eared hedgehog are casualty to foxes, wolves, and mongooses.

Hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal, though some species tin can also be agile during the day. Hedgehogs slumber for a large portion of the day under bushes, grasses, rocks, or most normally in dens dug in the ground, with varying habits amid the species. All wild hedgehogs can hibernate, though not all do, depending on temperature, species, and abundance of food.

Hedgehogs are adequately vocal and communicate through a combination of grunts, snuffles and/or squeals, depending on species.

Hedgehogs occasionally perform a ritual chosen anointing. ^[half-dozen] When the animal encounters a new odor, information technology will lick and bite the source, then form a scented barm in its oral fissure and paste information technology on its spines with its tongue. The purpose of this habit is unknown, but some experts believe anointing camouflages the hedgehog with the new scent of the surface area and provides a possible toxicant or source of infection to predators poked by their spines. Anointing is sometimes also called anting because of a like behavior in birds.

Like opossums, mice, and moles, hedgehogs take some natural immunity against some snake venom through the protein erinacin in the animal's muscular organisation, although it is available only in small amounts and a viper bite may still be fatal. ^[7] In addition, hedgehogs are ane of iv known mammalian groups with mutations that protect against another ophidian venom, α-neurotoxin. Pigs, honey badgers, mongooses, and hedgehogs all have mutations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that prevent the snake venom α-neurotoxin from binding, though those mutations developed separately and independently. ^[8]

Olfactory sense

The olfactory regions take not been thoroughly studied in the hedgehog. In mammals, the olfactory part of the brain is covered past neopallium, making it difficult to betrayal. This difficulty is non insurmountable, as information technology varies from one species to another.^{[ clarification needed ]} Tests have suggested that hedgehogs share the same electrical activity every bit cats. ^[ix]

Diet

Although traditionally classified in the at present abased order Insectivora, hedgehogs are omnivorous. They feed on insects, snails, frogs and toads, snakes, bird eggs, carrion, mushrooms, grass roots, berries, melons and watermelons. ^[5] Berries establish a major part of an Afghan hedgehog's diet in early spring after hibernation.^{[ citation needed ]}

Hibernation

During hibernation, the body temperature of a hedgehog tin subtract to about two °C (36 °F). When the animal awakes from hibernation, the trunk temperature rises from two–5 °C (36–41 °F) back to its normal thirty–35 °C (86–95 °F) body temperature. ^[10]

Reproduction and lifespan

Depending on the species, the gestation menstruation is 35–58 days. The boilerplate litter is 3–4 newborns for larger species and 5–half dozen for smaller ones. As with many animals, it is not unusual for an adult male hedgehog to impale newborn males.

Hedgehogs have a relatively long lifespan for their size. Larger species of hedgehogs alive 4–7 years in the wild (some have been recorded up to 16 years), and smaller species live two–iv years (iv–7 in captivity), compared to a mouse at two years and a large rat at three–5 years. Lack of predators and controlled diet contribute to a longer lifespan in captivity (8–10 years depending on size).

Hedgehogs are born bullheaded, with a protective membrane covering their quills, which dries and shrinks over the next several hours. ^[11] The quills emerge through the membrane later on the hoglet has been cleaned, or after the membrane falls off. ^[12]

Predators

Hedgehog basic have been found in the pellets of the European hawkeye owl. ^[xiii]

In Britain, the primary predator is the European badger. European hedgehog populations in the United Kingdom are lower in areas where badgers are numerous, ^[14] and British hedgehog rescue societies will non release hedgehogs into known badger territories. ^[xv] Badgers besides compete with hedgehogs for food. ^[16]

Domestication

The most common pet species of hedgehog are hybrids of the white-bellied hedgehog or four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) and the N African hedgehog (A. algirus). ^[17] It is smaller than the European hedgehog, and thus is sometimes called the African pygmy hedgehog. Other species kept as pets are the long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) and the Indian long-eared hedgehog (H. collaris).

It is illegal to own a hedgehog equally a pet in some US states including Hawaii, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and California, ^[18] and some Canadian municipalities, and breeding licenses are required. No such restrictions be in most European countries with the exception of Scandinavia. In Italy, information technology is illegal to go on wild hedgehogs as pets. ^[19]

Invasive species

In areas where hedgehogs have been introduced, such as New Zealand and the islands of Scotland, the hedgehog has become a pest. In New Zealand information technology causes immense damage to native species including insects, snails, lizards and footing-nesting birds, specially shore birds. ^[twenty] As with many introduced animals, information technology lacks natural predators.

Eradication can be troublesome. Attempts to eliminate hedgehogs from bird colonies on the Scottish islands of North Uist and Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides were met with international outrage. Eradication began in 2003 with 690 hedgehogs being killed. Brute welfare groups attempted rescues to save the hedgehogs. By 2007, legal injunctions against the killing of hedgehogs were put in identify. In 2008, the elimination process was inverse from killing the hedgehogs to trapping them and releasing them on the mainland. ^[21]

In 2022, it was reported that the hedgehog population in rural Britain is experiencing a rapid decline, going downward by 30%-75% since 2000. ^[22]

Diseases

Hedgehogs suffer many diseases common to humans. ^[23] These include cancer, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disease.

Cancer is very mutual in hedgehogs. The most common is squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell spreads quickly from the bone to the organs in hedgehogs, unlike in humans. Surgery to remove the tumors is rare because it would result in removing too much bone structure.

Fatty liver disease is believed by many to be caused past bad diet. Hedgehogs will eagerly consume foods that are high in fat and sugar. Having a metabolism adapted for low-fat, poly peptide-rich insects, this leads to mutual bug of obesity. Fatty liver disease is one sign, heart disease is another.

Hedgehogs are too known to exist highly susceptible to pneumonia. Similarly to how pneumonia affects humans, the symptoms for pneumonia in hedgehogs include difficulty animate and presence of nasal discharge. ^[24] This is known to be caused past the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterium. ^[25]

Hedgehogs uncommonly transmit a characteristic fungal pare infection to human handlers every bit well equally other hedgehogs. This ringworm or dermatophytosis infection is acquired past Trichophyton erinacei, which forms a singled-out mating grouping within the Arthroderma benhamiae species complex. ^[26]

Hedgehog suffering from balloon syndrome earlier deflating

Hedgehogs can suffer from balloon syndrome, a rare condition in which gas is trapped under the skin equally a upshot of injury or infection and which causes the animal to inflate.

Homo influence

Hedgehog amulet from Arab republic of egypt, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep 3 - Cleveland Museum of Art

Every bit with most small mammals living around humans, cars pose a great threat to hedgehogs. Many are run over every bit they endeavour to cross roadways. In Ireland, hedgehogs are one of the most common mammalian road fatalities. Between April 2008 and Nov 2010 on two stretches of road measuring 227 km and 32.5 km there were 133 recorded hedgehog fatalities. Of some other 135 hedgehog carcasses collected from throughout Republic of ireland, there were significantly more males than females collected, with peaks in male deaths occurring in May and June. Female deaths outnumbered males only in Baronial, with further peaks in female deaths observed in June and July. It is suggested that these peaks are related to the breeding season (adults) and dispersal/exploration following independence. ^[27]

Domesticated hedgehogs can get their heads stuck in tubes (commonly, toilet paper tubes) and walk effectually with them on their heads. Owners often refer to this every bit "tubing" and promote the behavior past supplying lean tubes. Most owners are considerate enough, however, to cutting the tubes lengthwise to prevent the hedgehog from remaining trapped against its will. Curiously, some hedgehogs still knowingly get themselves stuck for hours. ^[28]

Culinary and medicinal utilise

Hedgehogs are a food source in many cultures. Hedgehogs were eaten in Aboriginal Egypt and some recipes of the Tardily Center Ages call for hedgehog meat. ^[29] Hedgehogs are traded throughout Eurasia and Africa for traditional medicine and witchcraft. In the Middle East and especially amongst Bedouins, hedgehog meat is considered medicinal, and thought to cure rheumatism and arthritis. ^[xxx] They are also said to cure a variety of illnesses and disorders from tuberculosis to impotence. In Kingdom of morocco, inhaling the fume of the burnt peel or bristles is a purported remedy for fever, male person impotence, and urinary illnesses; the blood is sold every bit a cure for ringworm, cracked skin and warts and the mankind is eaten equally a remedy for witchcraft. ^[31] Romani people still eat hedgehogs, boiled or roasted, and also use the blood and the fat for its supposed medicinal value. ^[32]

In 1981 Philip Lewis, whole landlord of the sometime Vaults public house in Welshpool, Wales began the industry of "hedgehog-flavoured" crisps. Lewis'southward marketing had to modify, notwithstanding from hedgehog 'flavoured' to hedgehog 'season', due to advertizing standards, every bit the crisps did not actually contain whatever hedgehog. ^{[33] [34]}

Genera and species

Subfamily Erinaceinae (hedgehogs) ^[i]

• Genus Atelerix
  • Four-toed hedgehog, Atelerix albiventris
  • N African hedgehog, Atelerix algirus
  • Southern African hedgehog, Atelerix frontalis
  • Somali hedgehog, Atelerix sclateri
• Genus Erinaceus
  • Amur hedgehog, Erinaceus amurensis
  • Southern white-breasted hedgehog, Erinaceus concolor
  • European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus
  • Northern white-breasted hedgehog, Erinaceus roumanicus
• Genus Hemiechinus
  • Long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus
  • Indian long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus collaris
• Genus Mesechinus
  • Daurian hedgehog, Mesechinus dauuricus
  • Hugh'due south hedgehog, Mesechinus hughi
  • Minor-toothed woods hedgehog, Mesechinus miodon
  • Gaoligong forest hedgehog, Mesechinus wangi
• Genus Paraechinus
  • Desert hedgehog, Paraechinus aethiopicus
  • Brandt's hedgehog, Paraechinus hypomelas
  • Indian hedgehog, Paraechinus micropus
  • Bare-bellied hedgehog, Paraechinus nudiventris

See as well

• Echidnas or "spiny anteaters", members of the order Monotremata that have spines
• Lesser hedgehog tenrec
• Greater hedgehog tenrec
• Hedgehog's dilemma
• Hedgehogs in culture
• Porcupines, two dissimilar rodent families which accept spines or quills
• The Hedgehog and the Fox
• Hedgehog flavour crisps

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Hutterer, R. (2005). "Social club Erinaceomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the Globe: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins Academy Press. pp. 212–217. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0 . OCLC62265494.
2. ^ Reiter C, Gould GC (1998). "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Hedgehog". Natural History. 107 (six): 52.
3. ^ "WildlifeTrust.org.united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland". WildlifeTrust.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 Feb 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
4. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, Online edition. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
5. ^ ^{a b c} Attenborough, David (2014). Attenborough'south Natural Curiosities ii. Vol. Armoured Animals. UKTV.
6. ^ Drew, Lisa Due west. (i June 2005). "Meet the Hedgehog: What feeds on lizards, chews venomous toad skins and coats its spiky body with frothy saliva?". National Wild fauna . Reston, Virginia: National Wildlife Federation . Retrieved 12 July 2017.
7. ^ Omori-Satoha, Tamotsu; Yoshio Yamakawab; Dietrich Mebs (November 2000). "The antihemorrhagic factor, erinacin, from the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), a metalloprotease inhibitor of large molecular size possessing ficolin/opsonin P35 lectin domains". Toxicon. 38 (xi): 1561–80. doi:10.1016/S0041-0101(00)00090-eight. PMID10775756.
8. ^ Drabeck, D.H.; Dean, A.G.; Jansa, S.A. (ane June 2015). "Why the love badger don't care: Convergent evolution of venom-targeted nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in mammals that survive venomous snake bites". Toxicon. 99: 68–72. doi:x.1016/j.toxicon.2015.03.007. PMID25796346.
9. ^ Adrian, E. D. (1942). "Olfactory reactions in the brain of the hedgehog". The Journal of Physiology. 100 (4): 459–473. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1942.sp003955. PMC 1393326 . PMID16991539.
10. ^ Suomalainen, Paavo; Sarajas, Samuli (1 August 1951). "Heart-vanquish of the Hibernating Hedgehog". Nature. 168 (4266): 211. Bibcode:1951Natur.168..211S. doi: 10.1038/168211b0 . ISSN0028-0836. PMID14875055. S2CID4158610.
11. ^ Litter – Burlington and MIDI (2004-04-nineteen) Archived x July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. hamorhollow.com
12. ^ "Babies & Reproduction". Hedghogz.co.u.k.. Archived from the original on six September 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
13. ^ Social Behaviour / Territoriality / Predation / Learning: West European Hedgehog. wildlifeinformation.org
14. ^ Hof, A. R.; Bright, P. West. (2010). "The value of agri-environs schemes for macro-invertebrate feeders: Hedgehogs on arable farms in Britain" (PDF). Animal Conservation. xiii (5): 467–473. doi:x.1111/j.1469-1795.2010.00359.x. Badger predation of hedgehogs was loftier in the study site and the main cause of death
15. ^ Where have all the hedgehogs gone ?. Snufflelodge.org.united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
16. ^ David Wembridge. "The Land of Britain'south Hedgehogs 2011" (PDF). The British Hedgehog Preservation Order.
17. ^ "The Complete Guide to Hedgehogs". world wide web.petmd.com . Retrieved xvi Feb 2022.
18. ^ Moss, Laura (1 April 2022). "Hedgehogs are a prickly issue in some states". treehugger.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved eighteen October 2022.
19. ^ "Fauna selvativa e specie protette". Corpo Forestale dello Stato. Archived from the original on 2 November 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
20. ^ "Hedgehogs pose prickly trouble for native fauna". Landcare Research media release. 17 September 2003. Archived from the original on 1 October 2003. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
21. ^ Ross, David (xiv Jan 2009). "xviii Trappers Sought for Hebrides to Protect Birds from Hedgehogs". The Herald . Retrieved 12 June 2009.
22. ^ "Hedgehog population plummets in Great britain countryside, inquiry suggests". BBC News. 22 February 2022.
23. ^ "List of Hedgehog diseases". Wildlifeinformation.org. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
24. ^ "Hedgehogs - Diseases". vca_corporate . Retrieved 2 November 2022.
25. ^ "Common Diseases Of Hedgehogs". Bowmanville Veterinary Clinic . Retrieved 2 Nov 2022.
26. ^ Takahashi, Yoko; Ayako Sano; Kayoko Takizawa; Kazutaka Fukushima; Makoto Miyaji; Kazuko Nishimura (2003). "The epidemiology and mating behavior of Arthroderma benhamiae var. erinacei in household 4-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) in Japan" (PDF). Japanese Journal of Medical Mycology. 44 (1): 31–8. doi: 10.3314/jjmm.44.31 . PMID12590257.
27. ^ Haigh, Amy; O'Riordan, Ruth M.; Butler, Fidelma (2014). "Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus bloodshed on Irish roads". Wild animals Biology. xx (3): 155–160. doi: 10.2981/wlb.12126 .
28. ^ "A customs for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders – Ecology Enrichment". Hedgehog World. Archived from the original on fifteen January 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
29. ^ Pidd, Helen (14 September 2007). "Roast hedgehog and nettle pud – a slap-up feast for ancient Britons". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
30. ^ Qumsiyeh, Mazin B. (1996). Mammals of the Holy Land . Texas Tech UP. p.64. ISBN 978-0-89672-364-i .
31. ^ Nijman, Five.; Bergin, D. (2015). "Trade in hedgehogs (Mammalia: Erinaceidae) in Morocco, with an overview of their trade for medicinal purposes throughout Africa and Eurasia". Journal of Threatened Taxa. vii (5): 7131–7137. doi: ten.11609/JoTT.o4271.7131-seven .
32. ^ Wood, Manfri Frederick (1979). In the Life of a Romany Gypsy . J.A. Brune. pp. eighty–81. ISBN 978-0-7100-0197-9 .
33. ^ "White potato Crisps – A History". BBC. 7 December 2002. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
34. ^ "Hedgehog Crisps' Welshpool inventor dies, aged 74". Shropshire Star. 28 February 2017. Retrieved xv September 2022. {{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links

Look up hedgehog in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Hedgehogs (Species) at Curlie
• Hedgehog reference at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
• Hedgehog facts
• Hedgehog intendance and advice
• Natural History of European Hedgehogs (Wildlife Online)
• "Hedgehog" . Encyclopedia Americana . 1920.

Small Animal That Looks Like a Porcupune

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehog