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The European Hedgehog |
| Kingdom: |
Animalia |
| Class: | Mammalia (the mammals ("mammalia" is Latin for "breast") |
| Order: | Insectivora (the insect eaters ("insectivore" is Latin for "one who devours insects") |
| Family: | Erinaceidae (the hedgehog family ("erinaceus" is Latin for "hedgehog") |
| Genus: | Erinaceus ("erinaceus" is Latin for "hedgehog") |
| Species: | Erinaceus europaeus ("europaeus" is Latin for "Europe") |
| Why it is way cool! | Varying in color and size, it is often debated whether there is simply one
species of European hedgehog or many. Many taxonomists divide them into two
species, the Eastern and Western European Hedgehogs, distinguishable by minor
differences in skull and chromosome appearance. Well-known for its coat of spines (the average adult has over 5,000!) and ability to curl up in a ball when frightened, these little guys have good protection against predators. These spines are actually modified hairs filled with air chambers. When erected they criss-cross over each other to create a virtually impenetrable barrier. Being an insectivore, the European hedgehog's major prey is the earthworm, but it will eat any available invertebrate, including beetles, earwigs, and slugs. In Europe, hedgehogs are often tamed as pets and encouraged to live around human homes because they are thought to keep pests out of gardens. Hedgehogs have even played a roll in European folklore over the years, with stories of them carrying fruit on their spines or sucking milk from sleeping cows. Other members of the Erinaceidae family however, are not as lucky. A close cousin of the hedgehog, the Mindanao Moonrat is one species in this group that is already very rare. It is threatened with extinction in the Philippines due to habitat destruction, and the Tropical Hedgehog of Asia may soon suffer the same fate. |
