European hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
Where is it found?
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Woodland, grassland and gardens
Diet and foraging method
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Key adaptations
Hedgehogs have thickened hairs that cover their backs, these hairs narrow at their tips into sharp points, creating a barrier against predators. They have muscles located around the base of the coat that allow them to roll into a ball of spikes, this provides even more protection.
Social organisation and mating system
Solitary
Promiscuous
Did you know that...?
Hedgehogs are immune to snake venom.
Taxonomy
Pictured credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Keqs young european hedgehog1" by Lars Karlsson (Keqs) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Keqs_young_european_hedgehog1.jpg#/media/File:Keqs_young_european_hedgehog1.jpg
"Erinaceus europaeus in Avesta 04" by Calle Eklund/V-wolf - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_in_Avesta_04.jpg#/media/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_in_Avesta_04.jpg
"Erinaceus europaeus (Marek Szczepanek)". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_(Marek_Szczepanek).jpg#/media/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_(Marek_Szczepanek).jpg
"Erinaceus-europaeus 3" by Jürgen Howaldt - Own work (selbst erstelltes Foto). Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 de via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinaceus-europaeus_3.jpg#/media/File:Erinaceus-europaeus_3.jpg
"Erinaceus-europaeus 2" by Jürgen Howaldt - Own work (selbst erstelltes Foto). Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 de via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinaceus-europaeus_2.jpg#/media/File:Erinaceus-europaeus_2.jpg
"Erinaceus europaeus hérisson Cuvier Lasteyrie BNF Gallica" by Wermer, Maréchal, Huet, designers ; C. de Lasteyrie, lithograph ; Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Frédéric Cuvier, authors of the text. Uploaded, stitched and restored by Jebulon - Bibliothèque nationale de France. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_h%C3%A9risson_Cuvier_Lasteyrie_BNF_Gallica.jpg#/media/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_h%C3%A9risson_Cuvier_Lasteyrie_BNF_Gallica.jpg
"Keqs young european hedgehog1" by Lars Karlsson (Keqs) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Keqs_young_european_hedgehog1.jpg#/media/File:Keqs_young_european_hedgehog1.jpg
"Erinaceus europaeus in Avesta 04" by Calle Eklund/V-wolf - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_in_Avesta_04.jpg#/media/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_in_Avesta_04.jpg
"Erinaceus europaeus (Marek Szczepanek)". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_(Marek_Szczepanek).jpg#/media/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_(Marek_Szczepanek).jpg
"Erinaceus-europaeus 3" by Jürgen Howaldt - Own work (selbst erstelltes Foto). Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 de via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinaceus-europaeus_3.jpg#/media/File:Erinaceus-europaeus_3.jpg
"Erinaceus-europaeus 2" by Jürgen Howaldt - Own work (selbst erstelltes Foto). Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 de via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinaceus-europaeus_2.jpg#/media/File:Erinaceus-europaeus_2.jpg
"Erinaceus europaeus hérisson Cuvier Lasteyrie BNF Gallica" by Wermer, Maréchal, Huet, designers ; C. de Lasteyrie, lithograph ; Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Frédéric Cuvier, authors of the text. Uploaded, stitched and restored by Jebulon - Bibliothèque nationale de France. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_h%C3%A9risson_Cuvier_Lasteyrie_BNF_Gallica.jpg#/media/File:Erinaceus_europaeus_h%C3%A9risson_Cuvier_Lasteyrie_BNF_Gallica.jpg
