This article is about the spiny mammal. For other uses, see hedgehog (disambiguation).

A hedgehog is any of the small spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Insectivora. There are 15 species of hedgehog in four genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand. There are no hedgehogs native to the Americas or Australia. Hedgehogs have changed little over the last 15 million years. Like many of the first mammals they have adapted to a nocturnal, insectivorous way of life.

Physical description

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Hedgehogs are easily distinguished by their spines, which are hollow hairs made stiff with keratin. Their spines are not poisonous or barbed and, unlike the quills of a porcupine, cannot easily be removed from the animal. However, spines normally come out when a hedgehog sheds baby spines and replaces them with adult spines around the first year. When under extreme stress or during sickness, a hedgehog will lose spines.

Hedgehogs are most closely related to gymnures and other insectivores, including moles, shrews, tenrecs, the extinct deinogalerix and solenodons.

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hedgehogs seized in Texas looking for homes! Join HWS board for info http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/hedgehogwelfare/?yguid=294938098
CamphorChins (Camphor Chinchillas) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:51:34 -0000
hedgehogs seized in Texas looking for homes! Join HWS board for info http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/hedgehogwelfare/?yguid=294938098
Omg Hedgehogs!! lol (YouTube http://youtu.be/HK0l2tqFDvM?a)
DissidentsDMan (David Nieves) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:43:04 -0000
Omg Hedgehogs!! lol (YouTube http://youtu.be/HK0l2tqFDvM?a)
Hedgehog Welfare Society has to find homes for the 700+ Texas hedgehogs. And only 10 days to do it. Even us Canadians are helping out.
debrayeung (debra yeung) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:09:14 -0000
Hedgehog Welfare Society has to find homes for the 700+ Texas hedgehogs. And only 10 days to do it. Even us Canadians are helping out.
watching Russell Howard talking about pissed hedgehogs shagging hairbrushes...
LinnieD (Lindsay Davies) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:48:33 -0000
watching Russell Howard talking about pissed hedgehogs shagging hairbrushes...
@Thirlwall_Assoc Did you know about this? Finally a way to keep hedgehogs off the streets! ARC Competition - Welcome http://ow.ly/TiEw
revhabitats (revitalized habitats) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:49:45 -0000
@Thirlwall_Assoc Did you know about this? Finally a way to keep hedgehogs off the streets! ARC Competition - Welcome http://ow.ly/TiEw
I just noticed that my family crest has three hedgehogs in it! Hahahahaha
MarkHarris_omg (Mark Harris) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:36:32 -0000
I just noticed that my family crest has three hedgehogs in it! Hahahahaha

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