Hedgehog Central

Hedgehogs of the World

Major Sharon L. Spradling with a Long-Eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in Iraq

In total, there are currently 14 known species of hedgehog found throughout large areas of Europe, (including the British Isles) Africa and Asia, and they have been introduced to some of the islands off the African coast, and New Zealand. There are no native species of hedgehog in Southeast Asia, Australia or North and South America.

Below is a list of the four genera and 14 that comprise the known hedgehog species of the World:

GENERA: Erinaceus Atelerix Hemiechinus Paraechinus

SPECIES:

E. europaeus A. albiventris H. auritus P. aethiopicus

E. concolor A. algirus H. collaris P. micropus

E. amurensis A. sclateri H. hughi P. hypomelas

A. frontalis H. dauuricus

European Species

Erinaceus europaeus
The Western or European Hedgehog
Also known as the Brown-Breasted Hedgehog.
Range: Ireland, Britain, Western Europe, Southern Scandinavia
Appearance:
12-15 inches long range of Erinaceus europaeus 700 - 1000 grams
Chocolate-brown banded quills with brown underbelly fur

Erinaceus concolor range of Erinaceus concolor
The Eastern European Hedgehog
Also known as the White-Breasted Hedgehog.
Range: Czechoslovakia, as far south as Israel and north beyond the Caspian sea.
Appearance:
12-15 inches long
700 - 1000 grams
Chocolate-brown banded quills with brown underbelly fur and a distinct white patch of fur across the chest.

Erinaceus amurensis
The Chinese Hedgehog
Range: China, Manchuria and the Korean peninsula
Appearance:
12-15 inches long
700 - 1000 grams
Chocolate-brown banded quills with brown underbelly fur. (quill colour variations can be extensive in this species)

African Species

Atelerix albiventris
The 4-Toed or White-Bellied Hedgehog
Range: Central Africa
Appearance:
7-10 inches long
300 - 700 grams
Chocolate-brown and black banded quills with white underbelly fur.
This species totally lacks the "great toe" on the back foot, range of Atelerix albiventris prevalent in all other hedgehog species, hence the common name, 'Four-Toed Hedgehog.'

Atelerix algirus
The Algerian Hedgehog
Range: North Africa, from Morocco to Libya, including pockets in southern Spain and France. Has been successfully introduced to the Canary Islands, Malta and Djerba
Appearance:
8-14 inches long
400 - 1000 grams
range of Atelerix algirus Chocolate-brown and cream banded quills with white underbelly fur.

range of Atelerix sclateri Atelerix sclateri
The Somalian Hedgehog
Range: Limited to Northern Somalia
Appearance:
7-10 inches long
300 - 700 grams
Chocolate-brown and black banded quills. The underbelly fur is white with brown on the rear part of the underbelly

Atelerix frontalis photo courtesy of Zug G. Standing Bear Atelerix frontalis
The South African Hedgehog
Range: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia
Appearance:
7-10 inches long
300 - 700 grams
Dark chocolate-brown and black banded quills with a well developed white band of fur range of Atelerix frontalis across the forehead. The underbelly fur is greyish brown. photo courtesy of Zug G. Standing Bear

Long-Eared Species

Hemiechinus auritus
The Long-Eared Hedgehog
Range: Libya, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan
Appearance:
7-10 inches long
300 - 700 grams
Quills are faintly grooved and are banded by light brown. This species has very long, flexible ears and long legs.
range of Hemiechinus auritus photo courtesy of Sharon L. Spradling

range of Hemiechinus collaris Hemiechinus collaris
Hardwicke's Hedgehog
Range: Eastern Pakistan and Northern India
Appearance:
6-8 inches long
200 - 500 grams
Very dark brown banded quills with dark brown underbelly fur.

range of Hemiechinus hughi Hemiechinus hughi
Central Chinese Hedgehog
Range: Central China

range of Hemiechinus dauuricus Hemiechinus dauuricus
Daurian Hedgehog
Range: Eastern Mongolia, Manchuria
Appearance:
8-11 inches long
450 - 700 grams
Brown banded quills

Desert Species

Paraechinus aethiopicus
Ethiopian Hedgehog
Range: Wide-ranging throughout North Africa
Appearance:
6-10 inches long
400 - 700 grams
Pale brown quills with dark legs. Underbelly fur ranges from a mixture of brown, black and white to all brown. Well defined mask with a broad white forehead stripe.

Paraechinus micropus
Indian Hedgehog
Range: India and Pakistan
Appearance:
5-7 inches long
300 - 400 grams
Pale brown quills, dark face mask and grey-white forehead. This species has a pointy nose and dark legs.

Paraechinus hypomelas
Brandt's Hedgehog
Range: Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Oman and the Yemens
Appearance:
9-12 inches long
500 - 900 grams
Very long dark brown quills. There is no white band across the forehead.
photo courtesy of Lim Liang Jim

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