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Erinaceus europaeus

Erinaceus europaeus (*)

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Theria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Ordo: Erinaceomorpha
Familia: Erinaceidae
Subfamilia: Erinaceinae
Genus: Erinaceus
Species: Erinaceus europaeus

Name

Erinaceus europaeus Linnaeus, 1758

Vernacular names
Internationalization
Česky: Ježek západní
Dansk: Pindsvin
Deutsch: Braunbrustigel
English: West European Hedgehog
Español: Erizo común
Eesti: Siil
Føroyskt: Tindasvín
Français: Hérisson
Galego: Ourizo
Italiano: Riccio
Nederlands: West-Europese Egel
‪Norsk (bokmål)‬: Piggsvin
Polski: Jeż europejski
Русский: Ёж
Suomi: Siili
Українська: Їжак європейський
中文: 刺猬

Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 2 Volume Set edited by Don E. Wilson, DeeAnn M. Reeder

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The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), is a hedgehog species found throughout the Palaearctic region, except in the Himalayas and North Africa. It is not commonly found above 60°N in latitude, except for Norway, Finland, Estonia, Sweden and the Northwestern-most parts of Russia.

This hedgehog is about 20 to 30 cm in length. Adult mass can range from 600 to 700 g after hibernation up to 1100 or 1200 g prior to hibernation; occasionally, they may reach as high as 1600 g. Males tend to be slightly longer and heavier than females.

The European Hedgehog lives in woodland, farmland, and suburban areas. It is nocturnal, and if alarmed will roll itself into a ball, protecting itself against potential predators with its spines.

Unlike the smaller, warmer climate species, the European Hedgehog may hibernate in the winter. It is omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of invertebrates, but preferring slugs, earthworms, beetles and other insects. The preferred arthropods are the millipedes Glomeris marginata and Tachypodoiulus niger as well as the ground beetle Carabus nemoralis.[3] It is also known to eat frogs, small rodents, young birds and birds' eggs.
This species has become a serious pest in the Western Isles of Scotland, where introduced hedgehogs eat the eggs of ground-nesting waders such as Snipe, Dunlin, Redshank and Lapwing. It is also considered a pest in New Zealand where it preys upon the native giant snails (Powelliphanta), weta, and various other native invertebrates

Blonde hedgehogs have a rare recessive gene giving rise to beady, button-black eyes and creamy-coloured spines; they are not strictly speaking albino. They are extremely rare except on the Channel Island of Alderney and are nicknamed "Alderney Spike Girls". A population of around a thousand is believed to exist. They allegedly carry no fleas, and are a localised island variant of Erinaceus europaeus.

A low coverage assembly of the genome of Erinaceus europaeus was released by the Broad Institute in June 2006 as part of the Mammalian Genome Project.[4]

Protection list

On August 28, 2007, the new Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) [launched in 1997] included the European Hedgehog on the list of species and habitats in the UK that need conservation and greater protection.[5][6]

In Denmark, hedgehogs are protected by law.[7] It is illegal to capture or hurt them, but it is accepted to house underweight hedgehogs found out during winter. Garden owners are encouraged to attract hedgehogs with a bit of dry cat food, to utilize their pest control abilities.

References


1. ^ Hutterer, Rainer (November 16, 2005). Don E. Wilson and DeeAnn M. Reeder. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 214. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
2. ^ Insectivore Specialist Group (1996). Erinaceus europaeus. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
3. ^ B. Lundrigan & J. Bidlingmeyer (2000). "Erinaceus europaeus: European hedgehog". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Erinaceus_europaeus.html.
4. ^ "Hedgehog". Ensembl Genome Browser. http://www.ensembl.org/Erinaceus_europaeus/index.html. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
5. ^ BBC NEWS, Hedgehogs join 'protection' list
6. ^ BAP Terrestrial Mammal List
7. ^ http://www.skovognatur.dk/DyrOgPlanter/Pattedyr/Insektaedere/Pindsvin.htm The Forest and Nature Department

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Source: Wikispecies, Wikipedia: All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License