A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the order Eulipotyphla. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction. There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas (the extinct genus Amphechinus was once present in North America).

Hedgehogs share distant ancestry with shrews (family Soricidae), with gymnures possibly being the intermediate link, and have changed little over the last 15 million years. Like many of the first mammals, they have adapted to a nocturnal way of life. Hedgehogs' spiny protection resembles that of the unrelated porcupines, which are rodents, and echidnas, a type of monotreme.

What to look out for

EASY

The adult dentition includes a total of 36 teeth, dental formula I3/2, C 1/1, P 3/2, M 3/3. The deciduous dentition includes 24 teeth; these are shed by 3-4 months of age.

MILD

Dental abnormalities are not uncommon in Britain and may be particularly common in the population in New Zealand. The eyes are bright black and of moderate size.

TOUGH

They are neither enlarged for acute nocturnal vision nor reduced in size. They are normally somewhat prominent. Hoglet neonates are born with their eyes sealed closed.

Hedgehog CT Scan coming soon. Please come back later.