One of the 5 hedgehogs on WAnimals
Mammals · Eulipotyphla · Erinaceidae
Desert Hedgehog
Paraechinus aethiopicus
Least Concern
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
The desert hedgehog is a medium-sized hedgehog adapted to the arid environments of the Sahara and Arabia, with medium-sized ears and a bare patch on the crown that divides the spines in two. It is strictly nocturnal and spends the day in burrows or under vegetation. It feeds on insects, scorpions, spiders, eggs and small vertebrates, and can survive long periods without food by entering a state of torpor when heat or scarcity press.
Weight
280 g – 510 g
Size
14 cm – 28 cm
Life expectancy
7 years
