Desert hedgehog
Young Ethiopian hedgehog ( Parechinus aethiopicus )
The Ethiopian Hedgehog ( Paraechinus aethiopicus ), also Egyptian hedgehog or African desert Nigel is a mammal of the family of hedgehogs ( Erinaceidae ). The geographically isolated from each other in several deposits dissected ( disjoint ) circulation area covers parts of northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Description
The Ethiopian Hedgehog is a small hedgehog with big ears and a broad, non- incited center parting. The head-body length is 140-258 mm, tail length 10-40 mm, the length of the hind foot 26-38 mm and 32-48 mm length of the ear. The animals weigh up to 500 g The spines are longitudinally and transversely furrowed and have at the base and in the middle of each a dark tie, the tip is white or light brown. The underside is white with brown mottling. Nose and throat are gray or black in variable expansion, the legs are brownish-black.
Distribution and habitat
The geographically isolated from each other in several deposits dissected ( disjoint ) circulation area covers parts of northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In Africa, the largest part of the area of Western Sahara extends east to the extreme north-west of Libya, a second partial area covers the coastal strip from the middle Libya to the east of Egypt. Of this widely isolated, there is another small deposits in the central Sudan.
The animals inhabit predominantly rocky deserts and dry steppes; However, they look like on wadis with vegetation and oases can be found in which lighter food.
Way of life
Ethiopian hedgehogs are nocturnal and spend the day in self-dug Building. They eat scorpions, rolling spiders, insects and amphibians. The animals only a short hibernation and in extreme heat also a summer rest.
Little is known about reproduction. The mating season is between May and June. After about a month of two to seven eight to nine grams heavy, deaf and blind young are born. This open after 23 to 29 days, the eyes and are weaned after about 40 days. The life expectancy is three to four years, the maximum age in captivity at about ten.
System
There are five described subspecies:
- Aethiopicus aethiopicus Paraechinus - ( Ehrenberg, 1832)
- Paraechinus aethiopicus albatus - Thomas, 1922
- Paraechinus aethiopicus deserti - ( Loche, 1858)
- Paraechinus aethiopicus ludlowi - Thomas, 1919
- Paraechinus aethiopicus pectoralis - ( Heuglin, 1861)