On our planet, these animals appeared more than 15 million years ago. They are not only found in forests. Certain species of hedgehogs can even live in deserts. The famous cartoon "Hedgehog in the Fog" has been seen by many. Apparently, the main character belongs to the common hedgehog species. It is familiar to the eyes of the inhabitants of Russia. If the authors of the tape had drawn a hymnal, then most would hardly have guessed that it was a hedgehog.
Hedgehogs
A small mammal with an elongated, pointed, movable muzzle is a general description of a hedgehog. The species is distinguished by a variety of appearance and habitat. These animals include tenrecs and gymnurs, which do not have the usual needles. Moles and shrews are the closest "relatives" of hedgehogs. But porcupines, despite the similarity of protection, quills, do not belong to their "relatives".
Common features common to all hedgehogs:
- body length - from 10 to 45 cm;
- live weight - from 300 to 1500 grams;
- tail length from 1 to 21 cm;
- large wedge-shapedhead;
- zygomatic arches developed, widely set;
- the shape of the skull can be narrow and elongated or short and wide;
- eyes and auricles are well developed;
- number of nipples - from 2 to 5 pieces;
- sweat glands are absent, there are small sebaceous, anal and specific plantar glands;
- teeth are sharp, small, the first incisors resemble fangs, usually there are 16 teeth on the lower jaw, 20 on the upper jaw, some species have a total of 44 teeth;
- front legs shorter than back legs;
- of the five available toes on the hind legs (only the white-bellied hedgehog has four), the middle ones are the longest, adapted for cleaning needles;
- sparse fine hairs grow between needles;
- coat color varies from sandy white to black and brown depending on the species;
- when in danger they can curl up into a ball;
- most have well-developed subcutaneous muscles;
- have excellent hearing and smell, poor eyesight;
- most species can swim;
- even when fleeing from danger, the speed of movement does not exceed 4 km/h;
- average lifespan in the wild is within 5 years, as a pet can live up to 10;
- main enemies: wolves, badgers, hyenas, martens, foxes, mongooses, honey badgers, eagles, owls, ferrets, jackals and other predators.
Needle
Practically all kinds of hedgehogs are covered with spines. This is their kind of calling card. Needles are modified hair. Such a rebirth is especially noticeable on the sides.torso. In this place, very thin needles and strong bristly hair are clearly visible.
The number of needles in adults can reach 10,000. Their length does not exceed 3 cm. The needles themselves are very light and durable. They consist of many small air chambers separated by plates. On the skin, a thin, flexible neck emerges from the formation in the form of a ball. It gradually expands towards the base of the needle and narrows again towards its tip. This design guarantees the safety of the animal's body in the event of a fall from a height or any external pressure on the needles. The movable thin part is bent, excluding the possibility of penetration of the needle into the body. Their coloration is quite peculiar: the tip and base are white, the middle is black or brown.
Each needle has its own muscle that can bring it into a vertical position. At rest, the muscles are relaxed, and the needle cover looks slightly smoothed. In case of danger, the hedgehog first raises its needles, waiting for the danger to pass. In this state, the needles stick out with sharp tips in different directions, creating a solid prickly armor. If the threat increases, the animal curls up into a solid ball of needles.
Classification
Animals belong to the hedgehog family from the order of insectivores. There are several types of hedgehogs (photos and descriptions of some are given in the article below). The family itself includes 24 species, 10 genera and 2 subfamilies:
1. Real hedgehogs. Represented by four genera:
1) African include four kinds:
- Algerian;
- white-bellied;
- Somali;
- South African.
2) steppe include two types:
- Dahurian;
- Chinese;
3) Eurasian include three types:
- Amur;
- Eastern European;
- common (European);
4) Eared include six kinds:
- blue-bellied;
- Indian;
- collar;
- dark needle;
- Ethiopian
- eared.
2. Gymnury, or rat hedgehogs. These include five genera now living and six more already extinct. It is hard to say how many species of hedgehogs mankind will not count in the future, but such a species as hymnuras is already listed in the International Red Book. The living genera of rat hedgehogs include:
- hymns;
- small hymnures;
- Hainan hedgehogs;
- shrew hedgehogs;
- Filipino gymnurs.
Lifestyle
Hedgehog - a species of animal that lives in all countries of Europe, is also found in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and New Zealand. Scientists tend to believe that not so long ago they lived in North America. Never seen these animals in South America, Antarctica, Australia and Madagascar. On the territory of Russia, you can find an ordinary hedgehog, dark-skinned, Dahurian and eared.
In nature, animals prefer to settle under roots, in rock crevices, in bushes, burrows abandoned by rodents or dug on their own. These burrows can be up to one meter long. Hedgehogs lead a nocturnal, solitary lifestyle. They sleep during the day, hunt at night. They don't go far from their homes.
All types of hedgehogs are predators. Their diet includes:
- caterpillars;
- bugs;
- beetles;
- earthworms;
- snakes, including poisonous ones;
- frogs;
- mice;
- woodlice;
- spiders;
- vegetable food: acorns, cereals, wild berries, mushrooms, moss;
- locust;
- scorpions;
- slugs;
- lizards;
- bird eggs.
May be tempted by carrion and food waste. Between April and October, the hedgehog should gain enough fat to successfully survive hibernation.
Puberty occurs by the end of the first year of life (in some species - by two years). After awakening, the male goes to look for a mate. The mating season is possible when the air warms up to +18 ° С. Fights over females are quite fierce, but they do not end in injuries. After pushing with shells and biting in the legs and muzzle, the weakest gives way, leaving the battlefield. After mating, the male leaves the "girlfriend".
In the northern regions, cubs are born once a year, the southern populations can bring offspring twice during the year. The duration of pregnancy is 34-60 days. There are from 3 to 8 babies in one litter. Weight at birth - only 10-12 grams, they are naked, blind, bright pink. 6 hours after birth, they have the first soft needles. After two weeks, the "prickly" cover is completely formed. Firstfor a month, hedgehogs feed only on mother's milk, closer to autumn they begin an independent life.
Common hedgehog
This species is one of the most widespread in the world. The animal is a typical inhabitant of the plains, parks and woodlands. Avoids damp and wetlands. Often found near human habitation, a frequent visitor to summer cottages. It feeds on everything it can get. The main criteria for the type of hedgehog:
- body length - 20-30cm;
- tail length - up to 3 cm;
- live weight - up to 800 grams;
- color - from yellowish to dark brown;;
- needle length - up to 3 cm.
The "personal" territory of males is from 7 to 40 hectares, females are more modest - within 10 hectares. The onset of frost causes the animals to tightly close the entrance to the hole and hibernate. At this time, the hedgehog's body temperature drops to 1.8 °C. Animals sleep from October to April. In the spring, as soon as the air temperature warms up to +15 ° C, they begin to emerge from the mink. To survive the winter, the animal needs to work up to 500 grams of fat.
Puberty occurs at the age of one year. Pregnancy lasts up to 50 days, childbirth takes place from May to October. There can be up to 10 hedgehogs in a litter. Near the mother, they are up to one and a half months. Average life expectancy - up to 5 years.
African Pygmy
Of all the species of hedgehogs (there is a photo of mammals in the text) of the African genus, the pygmy hedgehog is quite curious. Found in Mauritania, Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia Senegal. Description:
- body length - up to 22 cm;
- tail length - up to 2.5 cm;
- live weight – 350-700 grams;
- color - brown or gray;
- do not hibernate.
The eyes are not large, the ears are rounded, the females are somewhat larger than the males. It makes soft squealing or snorting sounds, but in case of danger it can scream loudly. Animals of this species are kept as pets.
Eared
Of the six eared species of hedgehogs (photo below), only one lives in Russia - the dark-spined one. Animals are distinguished by long ears growing up to 5 cm. Description:
- body length - 12-27cm;
- live weight - up to 500 grams;
- needle length within 2 cm.
Usually, "eared" as a defense choose to run away, not roll into a ball. This species loves deserts, semi-deserts, dry steppes. Prefers to settle near abandoned ditches or damp ravines. Feeds on insects, small vertebrates, berries, fruits, seeds.
Gymnura
Common hymnura is a subfamily of rat hedgehogs. Description:
- body length - 26-45cm;
- live weight - 500-2000 grams;
- tail length - 15-30 cm.
The sides and back are black, the neck, head and back of the tail are white. The tail is covered with scales and sparse hair. The hymnura has no needles. Inhabits the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. Feeds on small animals, fish, frogs, fruits.
Interesting facts
There are some interesting facts about hedgehogs:
- normal body temperature is 34°C, and during hibernation it drops to 2°C;
- animal body is very resistant to various poisons, so hedgehogs easily cope with poisonous snakes;
- Romans bred hedgehogs for their meat, used entrails and blood as medicine, prickly skin was used to comb out sheep's wool;
- hedgehogs don't carry apples or mushrooms, it's a myth;
- Animals harbor countless parasites, scientists have even used hedgehogs to account for tick populations in different climates;
- Serbs use hedgehog urine as a cure for alcoholism;
- prickly "armor" is updated by a third annually.
