Algerian Hedgehog
Encyclopedia
The North African Hedgehog (Atelerix algirus), or Algerian Hedgehog, is a species of mammal
in the Erinaceidae
family. It is found in Algeria
, France
, Libya
, Malta
, Morocco
, Spain
, and Tunisia
. Little is known about this species of hedgehog, even though the most common breed of domesticated hedgehog
s is a result of crossing a Four-toed Hedgehog
with a North African Hedgehog. Because this species of hedgehog
is native to Africa
, it has been suggested that it was introduced by humans to the other countries where it is now found, including France
and Spain
(including the Canary Islands
). Of the four African species of hedgehogs, the North African Hedgehog is the only one of these hedgehogs that can be found outside the continent of Africa
. Because the North African Hedgehog has such a wide habitat range and has a seemingly stable population, both in the wild and in the domesticated capacity, it does not appear to be at risk at this time.
and northern Africa
. In northern Africa
, it can be found from Morocco
to Libya
, but is not able to survive in dry desert regions around this area. It can be found in other warmer regions as well, including parts of France
, the Canary Islands
, and the Balearics. Within these regions, it can often be spotted in garden and park areas.
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
in the Erinaceidae
Erinaceidae
Erinaceidae is the only living family in the order Erinaceomorpha, which has recently been subsumed with Soricomorpha into the order Eulipotyphla...
family. It is found in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. Little is known about this species of hedgehog, even though the most common breed of domesticated hedgehog
Domesticated hedgehog
The most common species of domesticated hedgehog is the African Pygmy hedgehog, a hybrid of the White-bellied or Four-toed Hedgehog and the Algerian Hedgehog . It is smaller than the European Hedgehog, and thus is sometimes called African Pygmy Hedgehog...
s is a result of crossing a Four-toed Hedgehog
Four-toed hedgehog
The Four-toed Hedgehog , or African Pygmy Hedgehog, is a species of hedgehog found throughout much of central and eastern Africa....
with a North African Hedgehog. Because this species of hedgehog
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
is native to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, it has been suggested that it was introduced by humans to the other countries where it is now found, including France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(including the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
). Of the four African species of hedgehogs, the North African Hedgehog is the only one of these hedgehogs that can be found outside the continent of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Because the North African Hedgehog has such a wide habitat range and has a seemingly stable population, both in the wild and in the domesticated capacity, it does not appear to be at risk at this time.
Physical description
The North African Hedgehog closely resembles the West European Hedgehog, however, there are several distinct differences between the two species. The North African Hedgehog tends to be smaller than its European counterpart, measuring anywhere from 200 to 250mm long. However, it is larger than the other African species of hedgehogs and has a longer snout and longer legs, making it a faster runner. Its face is light in color, usually appearing to be white, and the legs and head are brown. The underbelly of this animal can vary in color, and is often either brown or white in color. The ears on the North African Hedgehog are highly visible on the head of the animal and are large in size. The body is covered in soft spines that are primarily white with darker banding. The North African Hedgehog is most distinguishable from physically similar relatives by the lack of spines on the crown of the head, meaning a lack of the widow's peak.Habitat
Very little is actually known about the preferred habitat of the North African Hedgehog. It has been found in Mediterranean conifer and mixed forest climates as are present in southern mountainous regions of SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and northern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. In northern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, it can be found from Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
to Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, but is not able to survive in dry desert regions around this area. It can be found in other warmer regions as well, including parts of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, and the Balearics. Within these regions, it can often be spotted in garden and park areas.