Paraechinus

Desert Nigel ( Paraechinus )

The desert Nigel ( Paraechinus ) are a genus of four species of the family of hedgehogs ( Erinaceidae ).

The types

There are four types of desert hedgehogs:

• The Ethiopian Hedgehog ( Paraechinus aethiopicus ) lives in northern Africa ( Morocco and Mauritania to Somalia) and the Arabian Peninsula.
• The Indian hedgehog ( P. micropus ) occurs in Pakistan and northwestern India.
• Brandt's Hedgehog ( P. hypomelas ) lives in Iran and Central Asia ( the area of the Aral Sea ) and sporadically in the Indus and the Arabian Peninsula.
• The Naked hedgehog ( P. nudiventris ) inhabits only a small area in south-western India ( Kerala, Tamil Nadu ).

None of the four species is endangered according to IUCN.

Description

As with all sting the back of the desert hedgehogs Nigel is provided with sharp spines, the top of the head, however, is spineless. The rest of the body is covered with fur, its color can vary from white to brown to black. These animals can reach a body length 14-27 centimeters ( with a short, one to four centimeters long tail ) and a maximum weight of 500 grams.

Way of life

Desert hedgehogs usually inhabit dry habitats such as deserts or steppes, but they are also found in vegetation -rich areas such as oases and coastal regions. They are solitary and nocturnal and spend the day often in self-dug Building or crevices. At night, they go looking for food and put it back longer distances. In cooler regions they hibernate. In the event of an attack - to its natural enemies mainly include birds of prey and owls - they can, as the European hedgehog rolls into a spiny ball.

Food

Desert hedgehogs are primarily carnivores, taking among other insects, scorpions, eggs, lizards and snakes to be, and they are amazingly resistant to snake venom. They can survive several weeks without food and drink.

Reproduction

Relatively little is known about the reproduction of the desert hedgehogs. The gestation period is expected to be around five weeks and the litter size from one to four pups. They are born blind and helpless, open in three to four weeks, the eyes and are weaned at six to seven weeks. Life expectancy in the wild is three to four years, in captivity up to ten years.