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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 11.4 years (captivity) Observations: In zoos, these animals have been known to live up to 11.4 years (Richard Weigl 2005).
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Untitled

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African pygmy hedgehogs live approximately 2-3 years in the wild. In captivity, they can live to be 8-10 years old, mostly due to a lack of predation and better nutrition. (MacNamara 1998)

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Nichols, J. 1999. "Atelerix albiventris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Atelerix_albiventris.html
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Behavior

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Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical

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Nichols, J. 1999. "Atelerix albiventris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Atelerix_albiventris.html
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Conservation Status

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In addition to the wild animals found in African deserts, a closed breeding stock exists in the United States to service the pet trade market. It is no longer legal to transport the animals out of Africa, so their populations there are not threatened by the pet trade. ( http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/mammals/facts/hedgehog.html)

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Nichols, J. 1999. "Atelerix albiventris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Atelerix_albiventris.html
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Benefits

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Atelerix albiventris has some economic importance. In the United States many successful breeders sell animals to the pet trade. Additionally, because Atelerix albiventris eats many things deemed "pests" by humans, the hedgehog's diet makes it an important part of the ecosystem and local pest control. (Kelsey-Wood 1995)

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Nichols, J. 1999. "Atelerix albiventris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Atelerix_albiventris.html
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Trophic Strategy

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Atelerix albiventris is omnivorous butprimarily insectivorous. It feeds primarily on invertebrates such as spiders and insects, occasionally also consuming smalll amounts of plant matter or small vertebrates. African pygmy hedgehogs are opportunistic feeders with an extremely high tolerance to toxins. They have been known to eat scorpions and small poisonous snakes with no ill effects. (Kelsey-Wood 1995, MacNamara 1998)

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Nichols, J. 1999. "Atelerix albiventris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Atelerix_albiventris.html
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Distribution

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The African pygmy hedgehog ranges in southern Africa from Senegal to Sudan and Zambia. (Kelsey-Wood 1995, http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/mammals/facts/hedgehog.html)

Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )

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Nichols, J. 1999. "Atelerix albiventris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Atelerix_albiventris.html
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Habitat

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Atelerix albiventris is found in the desert biome. ( http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/mammals/facts/hedgehog.html)

Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; scrub forest

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Nichols, J. 1999. "Atelerix albiventris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Atelerix_albiventris.html
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Life Expectancy

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Average lifespan
Status: captivity:
11.4 years.

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Nichols, J. 1999. "Atelerix albiventris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Atelerix_albiventris.html
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Morphology

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A relaxed Atelerix albiventris>>has a generally oval shape. The limbs are short and the animal's round body is low to the ground. The African Pygmy Hedgehog has a very short tail. When threatened, the animal has the ability to contract a series of muscles, rolling itself into a compact ball shape, forcing its quills out in all directions. In a relaxed state, the quills lie flat against the animal's body. The average length of <<Atelerix albiventris is approximately 7-9 inches when the animal is relaxed. When rolled into the hedgehog's characteristic defensive ball, the animal is about the size of a large grapefruit. The species is sexually dimorphic with the females slightly outsizing the males. Typical coloration is agouti. Hedgehogs with this coloring have spines that are brown or gray with cream tips. The face and underside is covered with a soft, white fur. There are other, more rare colorations, although agouti is by far the most common.

(Kelsey-Wood 1995, http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/mammals/facts/hedgehog.html)

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Average mass: 600 g.

Average basal metabolic rate: 0.828 W.

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Nichols, J. 1999. "Atelerix albiventris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Atelerix_albiventris.html
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Reproduction

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Atelerix albiventris generally breeds once or twice a year. As spontaneous ovulators and primarily solitary animals, this species mates when the conditions are right and they encounter the opposite sex. They typically mate in rainy, warm seasons, when food is plentiful, usually between October and March in southern Africa. Gestation lasts 35 days. The young are born with spines already present, but covered with a membrane. Within a few hours of birth this membrane dries up and the spines immediately start growing. Weaning begins around the 3rd week and ends between the 4th and 6th weeks. The young leave their mother soon thereafter. The young are sexually mature around two months of age. (Brown & Wrobel 1997, Kelsey-Wood 1995, http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/mammals/facts/hedgehog.html)

Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual

Average birth mass: 10 g.

Average gestation period: 35 days.

Average number of offspring: 6.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female:
84 days.

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Nichols, J. 1999. "Atelerix albiventris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Atelerix_albiventris.html
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Four-toed hedgehog

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The four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), is a species of hedgehog found throughout much of central and eastern Africa.

Populations tend to be scattered between suitable savannah or cropland habitats, avoiding forested areas. The species common name is derived from the number of toes found on its hind feet. Due to its extensive range and stable wild population, the species is rated as least concern by the IUCN. In addition, the species is a popular small pet in various countries, and has been successfully domesticated and bred in captivity.

There are no universally agreed subspecies of A. albiventris.

Description

Skull of a four-toed hedgehog

The four-toed hedgehog is an oval bodied animal approximately 210 millimetres (8.3 in) in length and weighing between 250 and 600 grams (8.8 and 21.2 oz).[3] Females are typically larger than males. It has short legs, short tail typically around 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) in length, a long nose, and small beady eyes. The ears and whiskers are both relatively large, implying that the animal has good senses.[4] As its common name implies, and unlike related species, the four-toed hedgehog typically only has 4 toes on each hind foot, lacking the hallux. However, in some individuals, a small bony lump may be present in place of the hallux, or there may even be a well-developed toe, especially on the hind feet.[5]

It can vary greatly in colouration, but typical wild specimens have brown or grey spines with white or cream colored tips. The fur on the body is speckled grey in color, with brown around the muzzle, and white face, legs, and underparts. The upper body is covered in spines varying from 0.5 to 1.7 centimetres (0.20 to 0.67 in) in length, being longest on the upper surface of the head. The spines are variably colored, but always have a white base and tip.[4]

Males have an externally visible penis, located in the mid-abdomen, but the testicles are recessed into pouches close to the anus.[6] Females may have anything from two to five pairs of teats.

Distribution and habitat

The four-toed hedgehog is found across a wide swathe of central Africa, from Gambia and Senegal in the west, to Somalia in the east, and also in eastern Africa, as far south as Mozambique. It prefers grassy environments or open woodland, and is found at elevations as high as 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), although it is more common in lowland areas. Because it prefers to shelter in dry rocky or grassy areas, it avoids dense forest and swampland.[4]

The main predators of four-toed hedgehogs within their natural habitat are Verreaux's eagle-owl, jackals, hyenas, and honey badgers.[4]

This species tends to prefer temperatures between 24 and 30 °C. When it is hotter than that, it tends to find shelter in a burrow and go into a state of estivation, or when it is colder it goes into a state of hibernation in order to conserve energy.

Behaviour

The four-toed hedgehog is a solitary, nocturnal animal. It generally moves along the ground, but is capable of both climbing and swimming when the need arises. It is highly energetic, sometimes covering miles of ground in a single night as it forages for insects, grubs, snails, spiders, some plant matter, and even small vertebrates. It has a high tolerance for toxins and has been recorded consuming scorpions and even venomous snakes.[4]

The most common sounds made by four-toed hedgehogs are snorts, hisses, and a quiet twittering sound. When attacked, the animal can scream loudly, and males also produce a birdlike call during courtship.[7]

Although four-toed hedgehogs do aestivate through the summer, this is not thought to be connected to a rise in temperature, but rather to a lack of available food. Aestivation rarely lasts for more than six weeks.[4]

When encountering a predator, its standard defensive reaction is to tense up all the muscles on its back to cause its spines to stand erect, and then roll into a ball protecting its limbs and head. If it is harassed further, it will twitch in an attempt to jab spines into the predator and make snuffling/grunting noises.[4] Its spines are not released into the skin of an attacker, as those of a porcupine. Hedgehogs only rarely lose quills during adulthood; heavy quill loss is usually a warning sign as to the animal's health.[8]

When the four-toed hedgehog is introduced to a new or particularly strong smell, it will sometimes do what is referred to as self-anointing. It creates a large amount of foam by combining the aromatic substance with its saliva, and spreads it onto its spines. The purpose of this behavior is poorly understood, but it is thought to be a defensive action, as hedgehogs have been known to self-anoint with poisonous toads.[4]

Reproduction

Young four-toed hedgehog

Female four-toed hedgehogs do not go into estrus during any particular season, and are fertile throughout the year, although mating is most common during the rainy season, when food is most abundant. The female typically gives birth to a single litter each year, which may contain from two to ten hoglets, with four or five being most typical. Males approach the female and court her with high pitched vocalizations. Ovulation is induced, occurring only in the presence of a male, normally within 24 hours of mating.[7]

Gestation lasts thirty to forty days, and the mother gives birth in a well-lined nest cavity, such as an abandoned rodent burrow. The young are covered in a thin membrane to protect the mother from their already present spines, though it takes them some time to gain control over the muscles that move them. At birth, the young weigh about 10 grams (0.35 oz), and are blind and helpless, with only soft spines and no other fur. The spines stiffen within a few hours, and further spines emerge over the first few days of life as the skin, initially swollen and edematous, begins to dry and contract.[4]

The eyes open at fifteen days, when the young begin to become more active. The deciduous teeth appear at about three weeks, with the permanent teeth following at seven to nine weeks. The young are weaned by six weeks and leave the mother not long after. They can become sexually mature at two to three months of age, although in the wild they will not typically breed during the first year of life.[4]

In the wild, four-toed hedgehogs live for no more than about three years, but they have lived up to ten years in captivity.[9]

In captivity

The four-toed hedgehog is one of the most popular species of domesticated hedgehog sold in the exotic pet trade. It is bred extensively for color and temperament and is even displayed in competitive hedgehog shows. Lifespan is typically 4–6 years. Due to its energetic nature, many owners provide their hedgehog with a large running wheel. Some measure the distances their pets run every night, and some have claimed that their hedgehogs run upwards of 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) a night with speed bursts in excess of 16 kilometres per hour (9.9 mph). When kept in captivity, at more regulated temperatures, this species does not typically display its aestivation or hibernation behaviour. Due to the large amount of breeding stock available in captive collections, the four-toed hedgehog is rarely imported from the wild any longer. Several US and Canadian localities ban ownership of this species, or require special permits for them. These restrictions may have been enacted due to the ability of some hedgehog species to carry foot and mouth disease, a highly contagious disease of cloven-hooved animals.[10] Hedgehogs are generally hardy animals when kept properly, though they may be vulnerable to the growth of tumors as they mature.

References

  1. ^ Hutterer, R. (2005). "Order Erinaceomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ Hutterer, R. (2008). "Atelerix albiventris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.
  3. ^ https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ari/article/view/187110/176386. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Santana, E.M.; et al. (2010). "Atelerix albiventris (Erinaceomorpha: Erinaceidae)". Mammalian Species. 42 (1): 99–110. doi:10.1644/857.1.
  5. ^ Allen, J.A. (1922). "The American Museum Congo Expedition collection of Insectivora" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 47 (1): 1–38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-05. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  6. ^ Bedford, J.M.; et al. (2000). "Reproductive characteristics of the African pygmy hedgehog, Atelerix albiventris". Journal of Reproduction and Fertility. 120 (1): 143–150. doi:10.1530/jrf.0.1200143. PMID 11006156.
  7. ^ a b Gregory, M. (1975). "Observations on vocalization in the central African hedgehog, Erinaceus albiventris, including a courtship call". Mammalia. 39 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1515/mamm.1975.39.1.1. S2CID 85768161.
  8. ^ Vanderlip, Sharon (2010). Hedgehogs. Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 9780764144394.
  9. ^ Raymond, J.T.; Garner, M.M. (2001). "Spontaneous tumors in captive African hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris): a retrospective study". Journal of Comparative Pathology. 124 (2–3): 128–133. doi:10.1053/jcpa.2000.0441. PMID 11222009.
  10. ^ Doss, Grayson A (2021-06-23). "Diseases of Hedgehogs - Exotic and Laboratory Animals". Merck Veterinary Manual. Retrieved 2022-04-12.

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Four-toed hedgehog: Brief Summary

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The four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), is a species of hedgehog found throughout much of central and eastern Africa.

Populations tend to be scattered between suitable savannah or cropland habitats, avoiding forested areas. The species common name is derived from the number of toes found on its hind feet. Due to its extensive range and stable wild population, the species is rated as least concern by the IUCN. In addition, the species is a popular small pet in various countries, and has been successfully domesticated and bred in captivity.

There are no universally agreed subspecies of A. albiventris.

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