Interesting facts from the life of hedgehogs for children. Interesting facts about hedgehogs. They can "shoot" needles

You will not believe! It turns out that even before the advent of Groundhog Day, there was such a national holiday as Hedgehog Day. It was celebrated annually in Ancient Rome, and based on whether the awakened hedgehog sees his shadow, a meteorological forecast was built. IN Western Europe the tradition continued into later times. Then it was transferred to the New World, but since hedgehogs North America were not found, their role was assigned to marmots.

So we found a reason to present interesting facts about these amazing prickly, but so cute animals.

What you didn't know about hedgehogs

There are about 15 species in the world wild hedgehogs. The animals are native to both Europe, Asia and Africa.

Of course, everyone knows that the hedgehog, like the porcupine, has quills. But, unlike his “relative,” the hero of our article does not know how to shoot them for his own defense. However, if any inexperienced predator decides to feast on the animal, tempted by its difference in size, he will be bitterly disappointed: the hedgehog has approximately 6,000 sharp spines on its body! And their “taste” is unlikely to satisfy such a “gourmet”.

When a hedgehog is in danger, it curls up into a tight ball that simply cannot be unwrapped by force. When the animal calms down, its muscles weaken and it returns to its normal appearance.

Hedgehogs camouflage themselves with their own saliva. When they encounter a new smell, they begin to bite and lick the object until its taste is firmly reflected on their tongue. They then sneeze and lick their needles, thus masking themselves with a new scent.

They are insectivores. But beetles are not a mono diet for them. In the wild, snails, amphibians, lizards, snakes, bird eggs, fish, carrion, mushrooms, grass, roots, berries and melons are also eaten for lunch. House hedgehogs eat crickets, mealworms, earthworms, waxworms, and kibble.

Hedgehogs tend to be more active at night. If such a pet lives in your home, then get ready for its nocturnal adventures, which may disturb your sleep.

They love to eat very much. If they are not restricted in their diet (especially when fed pelleted food), they can gain an unacceptable amount of weight, which can lead to obesity. Animals that are too well-fed will not be able to curl up into a ball when danger approaches. However, this is also harmful for general condition health.

And the most amazing thing

Hedgehogs are sensitive to voices and appearance their owner (like cats and dogs). The bond between a person and their pet is very strong. When a hedgehog is nervous and covered in its “armor”, it can only turn around if it sees or smells its owner!

The cute owner of thorns - the hedgehog - often lives next to humans, but how much do we really know about him? This ancient creature seems to be primitive, but this seeming simpleton has perfect internal organs and rather complex behavior, although he belongs to the antediluvian genus. He is inquisitive, active and energetic, and in the complex and dangerous world around him he confidently navigates with the help of an acute sense of smell and subtle hearing, which he has more sensitive than even a dog. Want to know more about this amazing creature? Then we invite you to read the most interesting facts about hedgehogs.

1. Hedgehogs are the most ancient mammals. These animals from the order of insectivores have inhabited a wide variety of living spaces in almost all climatic zones for more than 20 million years. They only avoid permafrost areas and swampy areas.

The most widespread, well-studied and popular is our common, or European hedgehog. However, it is called this inaccurately, since it lives in the vast expanses of Eurasia right up to the Pacific Ocean. The closest relative of the common hedgehog is the long-eared hedgehog, which lives in the southern steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. It differs quite a bit from the ordinary one: it has larger ears, it itself is 2-3 times smaller, and its spiny shell does not go down so low to its abdomen. And in the steppes of Transbaikalia and Mongolia, the Daurian hedgehog is found - also a brother of the common hedgehog.

2. Hedgehogs make a wide variety of sounds. They snort, sneeze, grunt, grunt, snore and chatter their teeth. Hedgehogs' vision is poor, but their sense of smell and hearing more than compensate for this deficiency.

3. Hedgehogs seem to be clumsy, but they are not. They can run very fast - up to three meters per second.

4. Unlike mongooses, which are completely immune to snake venom, hedgehogs, although they sometimes hunt snakes, are only partially resistant to venom. The protein erinacin protects them from snake venom. However, if the snake bites the animal several times, the battle may not end in its favor.

5. A fox is not able to cope with a thorny animal on land, but a cunning animal can roll a hedgehog to the water, where it has to straighten its thorns. Then the fox grabs him.

6. Hedgehogs are our helpers in our dachas and gardens. They destroy insect pests and rodents. To lure a hedgehog into the garden, leave something edible for it outside in the evening (a piece of chicken, fish, dog or cat food, etc.). The animal will probably like the treat, and it will come to you more than once, simultaneously destroying slugs, caterpillars, May beetles etc.

7. In pictures in children's books, hedgehogs are often depicted as thrifty animals, carrying mushrooms and apples on their spines. In fact, this is not true. From plant foods, they sometimes eat berries and fruits, but they never carry them on themselves. In winter, they hibernate, but they do not need to store reserves - hedgehogs accumulate nutrients in the form of fat.

8. During the summer, it is extremely important for a hedgehog to gain a sufficient amount of fat reserves. If the animal weighs less than 500 grams in October, it may die during hibernation. In early spring, animals sometimes wake up earlier than expected. This is very dangerous for the hedgehog, since the subsequent cold snap can kill it.

10. To get rid of slugs, gardeners use beer traps - they place plates of beer on the ground and then collect the pests. Hedgehogs are also not averse to indulging in beer - they like the taste of the foamy drink. Like other sucklers, they can even fall asleep next to the plate or right in it! If an animal drinks too much beer, it gets alcohol poisoning with all the accompanying symptoms.

11. Ordinary (European) hedgehogs swim quite well. But sometimes they die in the water because they cannot get out of a body of water with steep banks. African hedgehogs cannot swim. If they accidentally fall into the water, they will inevitably drown.

12. Many hedgehogs end their days on the roads. On country highways you can often see hedgehogs killed under the wheels. Some believe that the animals throw themselves under the wheels because of the heat. In fact, they strive to cross highways for a reason. Highways divide animal habitats into small-area fragments. Using radio beacons, scientists have found that animals cover a distance of more than a kilometer per night, and the average habitat of one individual can exceed 20 hectares. To save hedgehogs, environmentalists propose digging tunnels under highways. Unlike their close relatives - moles, hedgehogs do not like to dig underground passages, and fences are a difficult obstacle for them. And besides, constant crossing between relatives leads to degeneration of the population, as genetic anomalies accumulate. Attempts by hedgehogs to find “brides” on the side lead to them crawling out onto highways. It ends sadly.

13. Although the owners of pet hedgehogs give them a sufficient amount of food and leave food out at night, the pets still try to look for something edible under the sofa, in cabinets, etc. The hunting instinct and biological rhythms force hedgehogs to wake up at night and go hunting even without being hungry. Due to the peculiar gait and long claws, the animals' walks in the house are accompanied by stomping.

14. Often, owners of country houses, believing that hedgehogs really love milk, leave bowls with this product on the street as a treat for the prickly animals. And indeed, they drink it, but after that they feel bad. Like most mammals, these animals feed on milk only in infancy. Adults do not produce the enzyme necessary to break down milk sugar. Unprocessed lactose enters the colon and becomes an excellent food for pathogenic bacteria. This process is accompanied by the release of gases, bloating and other unpleasant symptoms occur. So, by giving your hedgehog milk, you are doing him a disservice.

15. Hedgehog spines are modified hair. They consist of keratin, the needles inside are hollow and reinforced with transverse partitions. Due to this structure they are very durable. If a hedgehog curls up into a ball, it will remain unharmed even if it falls from a height of several meters. Each needle is replaced approximately every three years.

In contact with

A hedgehog is an animal that belongs to the phylum Chordata, class Mammals, order Urchiniformes, family Urchinaceae (Erinaceidae).

The origin of the Russian word “hedgehog” has not yet been fully studied. According to one version, the hedgehog got its name from the Greek “echinos”, which means “snake eater”. Supporters of another version see in the word “hedgehog” the Indo-European root “eg`h”, meaning “to prick”.

Hedgehog: description and photo. What does the animal look like?

The body length of a hedgehog, depending on the species, ranges from 10 to 44 cm. The weight of a hedgehog varies from 300 grams to 1.5 kilograms. The animal also has a tail, which grows from 1 to 21 cm in length.

Hedgehog tail

The animals have a large wedge-shaped head and an elongated muzzle with a pointed, mobile and moist nose.

The hedgehog's teeth are small and sharp; there are 20 teeth on the upper jaw and 16 on the lower jaw. Some types of hedgehogs have up to 44 teeth. The first incisors are enlarged and look like fangs.

The hind legs are longer than the front legs, each limb ends in 5 fingers, with the exception of the white-bellied hedgehog, whose hind legs have 4 fingers.

Long middle fingers help the hedgehog clean its spines.

The hedgehog's spines are hollow, with thin, sparse, barely noticeable hairs growing between them. The head and belly of the animal are covered with regular fur. On average, each hedgehog carries up to 10 thousand needles, which are gradually renewed.

The color of the needles of most species is dark, with alternating light stripes. The color of a hedgehog's fur, depending on the species, can be black-brown, brown, sand or white. In some places, the black color displaces the white, forming peculiar spots.

Most species of hedgehogs are distinguished by well-developed subcutaneous muscles. When in danger, the hedgehog curls up into a ball, and in this it is helped by the subcutaneous muscles located in the places where the spines grow.

Like most nocturnal animals, hedgehogs have poor vision, but their hearing and sense of smell are well developed.

It’s hard to call these animals fast, average speed the speed of a fleeing hedgehog is 3-4 km/h. Despite the fact that the hedgehog is a land animal, most species are excellent swimmers and climbers.

Hedgehog lifespan

The lifespan of a hedgehog in nature is 3-5 years. At home, hedgehogs live up to 8-10 years, as they do not die from natural enemies that hunt hedgehogs in the wild. The main enemies of hedgehogs are wolves, foxes, ferrets, owls, badgers, martens, mongooses, hyenas, jackals, honey badgers, eagles, and other predators.

Where do hedgehogs live?

The habitat of hedgehogs is quite wide: this prickly animal is found in all European countries - from southern regions Scandinavia to the British Isles, the hedgehog lives in Russia and hot Africa, Asia, New Zealand and the Middle East.

In nature, wild hedgehogs live in forests, deserts, steppes, cultivated landscapes and even cities. They dig burrows under tree roots or in bushes, and also settle in abandoned rodent burrows.

How do hedgehogs live in nature?

By nature, hedgehogs are nocturnal animals and solitary animals, leading a secretive lifestyle. During the day, hedgehogs sleep, hiding in self-dug holes up to 1 meter long or occupying empty rodent dwellings. Populations of foothill areas use crevices between rocks and voids under stones as shelters. At night, wild hedgehogs go hunting, preferring not to go far from home. Unfortunately, statistics show that quite a few hedgehogs are killed by cars while trying to cross highways at night.

What do hedgehogs eat in the wild?

The hedgehog is omnivorous, but the main diet consists of adult insects, earwigs, beetles, spiders, ground beetles, caterpillars, slugs, woodlice, earthworms. Hedgehogs also love to eat toads, locusts, bird eggs, crustaceans and invertebrates. Northern populations of forest urchins feed on lizards, frogs, mice and other small rodents.

All species of the hedgehog family are resistant to any, even the most toxic, poisons, which is why hedgehogs eat poisonous snakes and scorpions. The hedgehog will not disdain carrion, as well as food waste that can be found on summer cottages. Plant food forest hedgehog- these are mushrooms, moss, acorns, cereal seeds and any sweet berries - strawberries, raspberries, blackberries.

Over the summer, the hedgehog must fatten well, otherwise the animal may die during hibernation.

A substantial supply of fat allows hedgehogs to remain in a state of suspended animation from October to April.

Types of hedgehogs: photos, names and descriptions

The hedgehog family includes 2 subfamilies: real hedgehogs(Erinaceinae) and rat hedgehogs(hymnurs) (Galericinae), represented by 7 genera and 23 species. Below are several interesting species hedgehogs:

Common hedgehog(European hedgehog) ( Erinaceus europaeus)

One of the most common types of hedgehogs. The body length is 20-30 cm, the tail grows up to 3 cm, weight - about 800 g. The hedgehog's needles are no more than 3 cm long, the color is brownish-brownish with dark crossbars. The color of the muzzle, limbs and belly can be dark or yellow-white.

The common hedgehog is a typical inhabitant of woodlands, plains and parks in Western and Central Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavian countries, Western Siberian region, north-west of the European part of Russia and Kazakhstan.

Molting of the common the hedgehog is coming slowly, in autumn or spring. Every third needle is changed. Needles grow for about a year and even a little longer.

long eared hedgehog(Hemiechinus auritus)

It is distinguished by long ears, sometimes growing up to 5 cm in length. Representatives of the species are small, the size of the hedgehog reaches from 12 to 27 cm in length, the weight is 430 g. The needles of the long-eared hedgehog have a length of 1.7 to 1.9 cm. In case of danger, the animals rarely curl up into a ball, trying to escape.

This type of hedgehog prefers dry steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, where it lives in damp ravines and abandoned ditches. Habitat covers Africa, Lesser and Central Asia, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. In Russia, the long-eared hedgehog lives in areas from the Volga region to the Ural Mountains.

The animals feed on insects, lizards, toads, beetles, ants, small birds, berries, seeds, and fruits.

Eastern European hedgehog(Erinaceus concolor)

Reminds me European hedgehog, but the color of the front of the neck and belly is much lighter than the fur on the head and sides. Adults grow up to 35 cm in length, and the weight of a hedgehog in summer can reach 1.2 kg.

The Eastern European species of hedgehogs is common in Austria, Germany, Slovenia, the Urals, Kazakhstan, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean islands. It is found in a wide variety of areas: on the edges of forests, in parks, garden plots, fields and river valleys.

Hedgehogs feed on caterpillars, ground beetles, beetles, earwigs, snails, woodlice, slugs, earthworms, moss, acorns, sunflower seeds, berries (strawberries, raspberries, strawberries, mulberries), and mushrooms.

African pygmy hedgehog (white-bellied hedgehog) ( Atelerix albiventris)

It has a body length of 15 to 22 cm. The weight of the animal reaches 350-700 g. The color is usually brown or gray, the hedgehog's needles have white tips. Usually the African hedgehog quietly snorts or squeals, but in case of danger it can scream loudly. The hedgehog's tail reaches 2.5 cm in length. The animal's eyes are small, its ears are round, and females are larger than males.

African hedgehogs live south of the Sahara Desert, in countries such as Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Senegal, Mauritania. They eat spiders, insects, scorpions, snakes, snails, and worms.

Long-spined hedgehog (dark-spined, bald hedgehog) ( Paraechinus hypomelas)

It measures up to 22-27 cm in length with a body weight of 500-900 grams. The species got its name due to a small bald spot on the crown and long, thick needles, up to 4-4.2 cm long. The hedgehog's needles have different colors: it can be black with a white base or very light, almost white.

The bald hedgehog lives on plains and foothills, preferring rocky and sandy landscapes. The range partially extends across the Arabian Peninsula, the Persian Gulf Islands, through Iran and Pakistan to Kazakhstan. It is listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan and is also protected by the state on the territory of Turkmenistan.

Long-spined hedgehogs eat insects, locusts, cicadas, ground beetles, weevils, click beetles, small invertebrates and reptiles, including snakes, and rodents. Does not disdain carrion.

Ethiopian hedgehog(Paraechinus aethiopicus)

It is distinguished by light brown needles, short, dark limbs and a dark “mask” on the face. At the same time, the remaining parts of the body are white. An adult grows up to 15-25 cm in length, and the weight of a hedgehog ranges from 400 to 700 g. In general, the species is distinguished by rare gluttony.

The Ethiopian hedgehog lives in the deserts and sun-scorched steppes of North Africa: from Egypt and Tunisia to the coast of the Persian Gulf.

Ethiopian hedgehogs feed on insects, scorpions, snakes, bird eggs, frogs, termites, beetles, and locusts.

Daurian hedgehog(Mesechinus dauuricus)

It belongs to the genus Steppe Urchins and differs from most of its relatives in the absence of a strip of bare skin separating the spines of the head into a parting. The spines of the hedgehog are short, sandy or Brown, the fur is coarse, colored gray or dark brown.

This species of hedgehog is a typical inhabitant of forest-steppes and steppe areas from Transbaikalia to Mongolia and northern China. Hedgehogs feed on beetles, small mammals (hamsters, pikas), chicks and eggs of birds, snakes, frogs, toads, cotoneaster and rosehip berries.

Ordinary gymnura(Echinosorex gymnura)

Belongs to the subfamily of rat hedgehogs. Gymnura grows in length from 26 to 45 cm with a body weight from 500 g to 2 kg. The hedgehog's tail, covered with sparse hairs and scales, reaches 17-30 cm in length, and its back part is colored White color. The back and sides are black, the hedgehog's head and neck are white.

Gymnura inhabits the tropical rainforests of southeast Asia from Malacca to Borneo. It feeds on invertebrates and small vertebrates, crustaceans, frogs, toads, fish, and fruits.

Small hymnura ( Hylomys suillus)

The smallest in the family. The length of its body does not exceed 10-14 cm. The tail reaches 2.5 cm. The weight of the animal is 45-80 grams.

The animal lives in mountainous areas and hills in the countries of southeast Asia (Indonesia, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China). Lesser gymnura eat insects and worms.

Reproduction of hedgehogs

At the end of hibernation, when the air warms up to 18-20 degrees, mating season begins for hedgehogs. Hedgehogs reach sexual maturity at 10-12 months. Northern populations reproduce once a year, southern populations produce offspring twice.

Female hedgehogs build nests in their burrows, lining the bottom of the hole with dry leaves and grass.

Males often fight for the female, starting fights with sniffling and snorting, biting each other on the face and legs, and pricking themselves with sharp needles. Then the winner circles for a long time around the female, who thoroughly smoothes her needles before mating. Hedgehogs are polygamous animals and immediately separate after mating.

The gestation period ranges from 34 to 58 days, resulting in the birth of 1 to 7 (usually 4) cubs weighing 12 grams.

Newborn hedgehogs are blind, covered with completely bare, bright pink skin. During the first day of life, soft, light and dark needles grow on the body of small hedgehogs. After 2 weeks, the animal’s needle-like cover is already fully formed.

For the first month, the female hedgehog feeds the cubs with milk, then the young move on to independent life.

Keeping a hedgehog at home and caring for it

Nowadays, hedgehogs are considered quite popular pets, but catching a wild animal and bringing it home is an unwise decision. A wild hedgehog can be a carrier of a number of dangerous diseases: ringworm, salmonellosis, hemorrhagic fever, rabies. In addition, you can almost always find fleas and ticks on hedgehogs. That's why, The best way purchasing a funny animal - turning to breeders who guarantee the pet’s health, good heredity and adaptation to existence in captivity.

When do hedgehogs hibernate?

The most important thing that the future owner of a prickly pet should know: even in captivity, a domestic hedgehog needs hibernation, albeit not as long as in natural conditions. Otherwise, by spring the animal may die. True, this does not apply to African pygmy hedgehogs that do not hibernate. In autumn, hedgehogs need to be fed intensively, since it is during this period that hedgehogs accumulate fat reserves.

At the end of October - beginning of November, the animal will experience a period of numbness and lethargy, this means the beginning of hibernation. Usually in nature, hedgehogs spend the winter in their nest, so the animal needs to be given a secluded place where the temperature does not exceed 5 degrees Celsius: on a loggia, attic, or in a barn. In warm weather, the hedgehog may not hibernate. To the nest pet hedgehog you need to put dry leaves, sawdust, straw, rags. And then you can identify your pet there.

How to wash a hedgehog at home?

You can bathe a hedgehog at home only if we are talking about an adult healthy animal. Small newborn hedgehogs, as well as sick, weak animals should not be washed. Take a basin and fill it with warm water no higher than 34.8 degrees Celsius. The water level should not exceed 5 cm. Instead of a basin, you can use a washbasin to bathe your pet hedgehog; the main thing is to monitor the water temperature.

Supporting the hedgehog under its head and chest, you can lower it into the water. You need to let the hedgehog get comfortable, but don't let him swim. Wash the hedgehog's belly and paws, then its back and quills. Do not pour water on its face, otherwise your pet hedgehog may get scared. To wash the hedgehog's needles, you can use a toothbrush and neutral baby shampoo, which should be rinsed thoroughly. After washing the hedgehog, you can wrap it in a towel. But under no circumstances should you dry it with a hairdryer and protect your pet from drafts.

The ancient Romans used hedgehog skins to comb sheep.
Gypsies eat hedgehogs, and fried hedgehog is a favorite gypsy dish.
Serbs treat alcoholism with hedgehog urine, and use the animal’s heart as a talisman against diseases.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the McDonalds restaurant chain killed many unfortunate hedgehogs. Cups from the popular McFlurry ice cream ended up in the trash, which was something that hedgehogs with a sweet tooth did not fail to take advantage of. The animals happily licked the remnants of the ice cream, sticking their heads into the neck of the glass, but they could not pull it back out because the diameter of the container was too poor. As a result, thousands of hedgehogs died, essentially walled up in glasses. As a result of protests from animal rights activists, the diameter of the necks of the glasses was changed, and animals stopped dying.

Savvy, cunning and very smart hedgehogs Perhaps the best adapted for survival in the forests of the middle zone. Omnivorousness, reliable protection from prickly needles, and developed intelligence play into their hands. Moreover, cute and cute hedgehogs, who sniff and snort so funny, are also excellent hunters. They feed not only on mushrooms and berries, but willingly include in their diet any living creature that they can overcome.

Facts about hedgehogs

There are 24 species of these animals in the world.
The hedgehogs we are familiar with seem tailless, although in fact they have a tail, just a very short one. And in some species the so-called rat hedgehogs the length of the tail can exceed 20 centimeters.
They have 5 toes on both their front and hind legs. An interesting fact: the white-bellied hedgehog is distinguished by the fact that it has only 4 toes on its hind legs.
Depending on the species, hedgehogs have from 4 to 10 nipples on their bodies.
They have more teeth on the upper jaw than on the lower jaw - 20 versus 16.
The prickly and quite durable needles of hedgehogs are actually hollow inside; there is nothing there except air ().
As the hedgehog grows older, the number of spines on its body increases. In a young individual there are about 3000 of them, sometimes a little more, and in an adult this number reaches 6000.
A hedgehog's nose always remains wet if the animal is healthy. Almost like cats.
Hedgehogs' spines grow at about the same rate as our hair grows.
Hedgehogs also have regular hair between their spines, but they can only be noticed upon careful examination, because they are thin and very sparse.
The first hedgehogs appeared on Earth a long time ago, more than 20 million years ago.
Russian common hedgehogs They hibernate in winter, so they eat off in the fall. As scientists have established, thin hedgehogs that have not gained at least 0.5 kg of weight usually do not survive the winter.
Hedgehogs have poor eyesight, but they compensate for this deficiency with the help of acute hearing and an excellent sense of smell ().
Despite their apparent clumsiness, they are capable of running very fast, covering up to 3 meters in a second.
Hedgehogs often hunt snakes, including poisonous ones. The poison is dangerous for them, but to a lesser extent than for other mammals.
European hedgehogs are good swimmers, but their African counterparts are not, so they always drown if they happen to fall into a pond.

Residents of country houses sometimes offer hedgehogs a treat in the form of a saucer of milk. This should not be done, because these animals can only digest milk in childhood. Adult hedgehogs also drink it, but then they feel unwell.
Foxes sometimes hunt hedgehogs. They are not able to turn around the animal curled into a prickly ball, but they roll them into the water, where they have to straighten up ().
Hedgehogs never carry mushrooms and berries on their backs, as in pictures in children's books.
Hedgehog spines are composed mainly of keratin, just like hair.
Hedgehogs change their needles about once every three years, but, of course, not all at once, but as they grow.
They thoroughly prepare for winter, insulating their home so well that even in 20-degree frosts, the temperature inside remains above 0 degrees.
On average, an adult hedgehog travels about 2 kilometers in search of food per day.
Unlike many other animals that also hibernate during the winter, hedgehogs do not dig holes. They make their home in the voids under roots and stones.
When the air temperature drops to +6, they begin to fall asleep against their will - the body goes into hibernation. If this happens when the hedgehog has not yet set up a home for itself, it will most likely fall asleep right on the spot, and if the temperature drops below 0, it will freeze to death.
Only females raise their cubs. Males do not take part in this process.
Newborn hedgehogs are born with soft needles, which are also located under the skin. But already an hour after birth, they begin to straighten and harden.
On average, one hedgehog in a thousand is albino.
In captivity, these animals can live up to 9-10 years, but in nature they usually live half as long.
In the summer, when it is warm, the hedgehog's heart makes up to 180 beats per minute, and in the winter, when the animal hibernates, the heart rate slows down to 20-50 beats per minute.
Some poisons, such as arsenic and hydrocyanic acid, are almost harmless to hedgehogs in doses in which they can kill a person.
In ancient Rome, hedgehogs were specially bred for culinary purposes.
During hibernation, the hedgehog's body temperature drops to about +2 degrees.

1. Hedgehogs appeared on Earth about 15 million years ago.

2. The average hedgehog has approximately 10 thousand spines. They are updated every three years. Hedgehog needles take a long time to grow, about a year. Fortunately for the hedgehog, their renewal occurs gradually.

3. The hedgehog has 36 teeth, which, like humans, can fall out in old age.

4. Hibernation for hedgehogs lasts 128 days. While the hedgehog is sleeping, its body temperature drops to 2 degrees Celsius (under normal conditions it is 34 degrees). The breathing of sleeping hedgehogs is seriously slowed down: a maximum of 8 inhalations and exhalations per minute, although they usually breathe at a frequency of 40-50 times. An awakened hedgehog is the walking embodiment of hunger, so the animal spends several days after waking up exclusively searching for food.

5. Most types of hedgehogs have a tail. True, it is very short - only 3 cm, so it is not visible from under the needles.

6. Despite the fact that hedgehogs can distinguish colors, they are naturally blind. But they have very acute hearing and a keen sense of smell.

7. Eared hedgehogs differ from their counterparts in that they are extremely reluctant to curl up into a ball in case of danger. This type of hedgehog runs very fast, and it is not easy for land predators to catch up with it. If the long-eared hedgehog is overtaken by an enemy, the animal jumps up and tries to prick its opponent in sensitive places.

8. Hedgehogs are immune to viper venom, although they do not specifically hunt these snakes. However, if the opportunity arises, the hedgehog will eat the viper with great appetite.

9. Hedgehogs do not hunt mice - this is a myth. They might be happy to feast on mouse meat, but they are not able to catch up with the mouse.

10. In children's books you can often see a hedgehog carrying an apple on his back. In fact, hedgehogs do not prick apples, mushrooms, or other large objects on their dorsal needles - they are physically unable to curl up in such a way as to do this. The “father” of the myth that animals carry supplies on their backs is the ancient Roman historian Pliny the Elder. Where he got this from is unknown.