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HedgeHog
Shog is a sweet little hedgehog. Many hedgehogs are sold now as pets. They require special care, so please do your research before getting one.
Hedgehogs' habitats vary from the forest to the jungle, though none are found in colder regions. In Europe, people actually try to attract wild hedgehogs to their yards to help control insects. The types of hedgehogs found in the states are from Africa, though there are other species on other continents. The hairs on their backs are actually un-barbed spines. This is what they use as a defense against predators. Hedgehogs have a unique muscle called the orbicularis panniculi which circles their body under the edge of their spiny coat. When frightened, they can use this muscle to roll themselves into a very tight ball, tucking in even their head and feet.
Even though hedgehogs have actually been kept in captivity for quite some time now, their diet is still very much a mystery. Prior to getting a hedgehog as a pet, please read all of the information you can about them, so that you can make an informed decision on housing and diet.
In The Wild
Classification: |
Erinaceidae Order Insectivore |
Native Region: |
From Senegal in western Africa to southern Somalia and Tanzania on the continent's eastern edge |
Diet: |
Insectivore, eating worms, snails and arthropods |
Behavior: |
Nocturnal |
Social Structure: |
Solitary |
Interesting Facts: |
Hedgehogs are 40 times as resistant to snake and arthropod venom as guinea pigs four times their size. They lick and chew objects with unfamiliar odors or possess irritating substances, producing quantities of foamy saliva that they spread over their spines. This is believed to deter predators |