Northern white-breasted hedgehogs (Erinaceus roumanicus) are small mammals easily recognized by their spines. They nocturnal secretive animals and roll into a tight spiny ball when feeling threatened.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withAs their name suggests, Northern white-breasted hedgehogs have very pale chest and belly. Their spines are hollow hairs made stiff with keratin. The size of Northern white-breasted hedgehogs varies based on the temperature and precipitation, and they are typically larger in areas with higher temperatures.
The range of these hedgehogs extends in the west as far as Poland, Austria, and the former Yugoslavia, and south to Greece and the Adriatic Islands, including populations on Crete, Corfu, and Rhodes. They are found eastwards through Russia and Ukraine, as far east as the Ob River in Siberia. Northern white-breasted hedgehogs prefer to live in forest edges, shrublands, agricultural areas, and rural gardens. They also live in suburban and urban areas.
Little is known about the habits of Northern white-breasted hedgehogs. They are solitary and nocturnal animals. During the daylight hours, they sleep under bushes, grasses, rocks, or most commonly in dens dug underground. When feeling threatened they will roll into a tight spiny ball, tucking in their furry face, feet, and belly.
Northern white-breasted hedgehogs are omnivorous. They eat insects, snails, frogs and toads, snakes, bird eggs, carrion, mushrooms, grass roots, fruits, and berries.
Information about the mating system and reproductive behavior of this species is scarce. The young, called hoglets are born blind, with their quills covered by a protective membrane that dries and shrinks over several hours; it falls off after cleaning, allowing the quills to emerge.
This species doesn't face any major threats at present.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Northern white-breasted hedgehog total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are stable.
