Desert hedgehog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Desert hedgehog |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Paraechinus
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| Species: |
aethiopicus
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| Desert hedgehog range | |
The desert hedgehog (scientific name: Paraechinus aethiopicus) is a small, spiky mammal. It belongs to the Erinaceidae family, which includes all hedgehogs. These cool creatures live in dry, desert areas.
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Meet the Desert Hedgehog
The desert hedgehog is one of the smallest hedgehogs around. It usually grows to be about 5.5 to 11 inches (14 to 28 cm) long. It weighs about 10 to 18 ounces (280 to 510 grams).
Spikes and Protection
The desert hedgehog's back is covered in sharp quills, also called spines. These quills often have bands of different colors. You can often tell a desert hedgehog apart by its dark nose area.
When a desert hedgehog feels scared or in danger, its body has a special trick. Its muscles tighten, pulling its outer skin layer. This makes all its quills stand straight out in every direction. These quills are usually longer than those of other hedgehogs. This extra length helps protect them better from animals that might try to hunt them. Because of this, it's very hard for predators to catch one.
Where Do They Live?
Desert hedgehogs are found in many countries. They live across parts of North Africa and the Middle East.
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Chad
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Libya
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Niger
- Oman
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
- They might also live in Ethiopia.
Hedgehog Families
Desert hedgehogs start to have babies in March. This is after they have finished their winter rest, called hibernation.
Baby Hedgehogs
A female desert hedgehog can give birth to up to six young at a time. She usually has her babies in a hidden burrow or a cozy nest. The babies grow inside her for about 30 to 40 days before they are born.
When baby hedgehogs are born, they cannot hear or see. Their quills are soft and lie just under their skin. This helps make sure the mother isn't hurt during birth. Within a few hours, the quills start to pop out. Their eyes open after about 21 days, which is around three weeks. The young hedgehogs drink their mother's milk for about 40 days. Most desert hedgehog mothers only have one group of babies each year.
What Threats Do They Face?
The desert hedgehog is quite common. It lives in many places and has a large population. These hedgehogs can usually handle changes to their homes. Because of this, they are not considered to be in danger globally.
Challenges in the Desert
While there are no huge threats, some things can make life harder for them. As deserts get bigger, their homes can become split up. This means groups of hedgehogs might become separated from each other. Also, sometimes hedgehogs get hurt or killed by cars on roads. This happens more often in certain areas.
