Animal Kingdom

Chordate Phylum: Mammals: The hedgehog

The hedgehog is found throughout Europe into western Siberia and up to the Arctic circle. It has a fat body, 20 to 30 cm long, covered with about 6000 spines and it has a short tail. Hedgehogs are found in many different habitats. They have come to appreciate human habitations where they live happily in parks and gardens.

Many hedgehogs, however, are run over by motor vehicles at night. This is partly due to their behaviour: when they are attacked they curl up into a ball of spines. This is no protection from a car! Hedgehogs themselves prey mainly on insects.

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© Paul Billiet, Shirley Burchill, Alan Damon and Deborah James 2009