AFRICAN PYGMY HEDGEHOG
Atelerix Albiventris
SIZE: 6 – 10 inches long
WEIGHT: 0.2 – 0.5Kg
DIET: Small animals and insects such as grubs, snails and spiders
LIFE SPAN: 3 – 10 years
CONSERVATION STATUS:
DISTRIBUTION:
DID YOU KNOW?
Hedgehogs are nocturnal
which means that they
sleep in the day and only
come out at night.
The spines on the hedgehog
are used as a protective layer to ward off predators. When they feel threatened, a strong muscle in their backs pull them into a ball, this is a physical and behavioural adaptation.
They are called hedgehogs for a reason. The ‘Hedge’ part of their name comes from where they build their nests hedges, bushes and shrubs. The ‘hog’ part comes from the small snorting sound they make which is similar to a pig.
• Out of all 17 species of hedgehogs on the planet, the most common is the African pygmy hedgehog.
