Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are small spiky mammals. There are five different kinds of hedgehog, found in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. In New Zealand they are an introduced animal.

An African Pygmy hedgehog
Photo by permission from http://hedgehogvalley.com/

Hedgehogs curl up into a ball when threatened, which makes their spikes point outwards so that they are difficult to pick up or bite. They are mainly nocturnal, or active at night, and sleep for most of the day.

To help them burrow, they have five toes on their front legs, with short claws. On their back paws they have four toes, and the claws are constantly growing.

kidcyber suggests these sites for information about hedgehogs:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/reallywild/amazing/hedgehog.shtml

http://www.oregonzoo.org/Cards/Ed_Program/hedgehog.htm

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/creature_feature/0202/hedgehogs.html

There are some great photos here http://www.hedgehogs.org/hedge.html

Back to Animals

March 2007