Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
In the wild, a hedgehog is opportunistic and will eat many things, but the majority of the diet comprises insects. As insectivores, hedgehogs need a diet that is high in protein and low in fat. They also require chitin, which comes from the exoskeleton of insects; fiber in the diet may be a substitute for the chitin component. There are ...
Hedgehogs have a relatively long lifespan for their size. In captivity, lack of predators and controlled diet contribute to a lifespan of eight to ten years depending on size. In the wild, larger species live four to seven years (some recorded up to 16 years), and smaller species live two to four years (four to seven in captivity).
A European hedgehog eating fish carcass, photographed in Altai Krai A European hedgehog eating fallen fruits European hedgehog foraging in hedgerow The European hedgehog is an insectivore . Its diet consists largely of earthworms , as well as snails and slugs, beetles , ants, bees and wasps, earwigs , cockroaches, crickets and grasshoppers ...
Diet: Believed to be omnivorous; primarily insects [8] LC Unknown [9] Southern African hedgehog. A. frontalis (Smith, 1831) Southern Africa: Size: 15–20 cm (6–8 in) long, plus 2 cm (1 in) tail [10] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland [11] Diet: Omnivorous; primarily insects, as well as carrion, vegetables, fungi, and small ...
The idea that these animals eat only slugs and snails is a myth; this type of food makes up only about 5% of their natural diet. The breakdown of a wild hedgehog's diet is as follows: 30% beetles, 25% caterpillars, 11% earthworms, 10% bird eggs, 5% mammal meat, 5% slugs and snails, 3% millipedes, 3% earwigs, 2% bees, 1% bird meat and 5% that ...
The Southern African hedgehog is said to be a slow mover; however, when threatened, it can move surprisingly fast at 6 to 7 km/h (3.7 to 4.3 mph). [3] During the day, they typically stay where they live, which is an area that is covered with vegetation or in a hole in the ground.
The four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), also known as the African pygmy hedgehog, 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 ...
Desert hedgehog from Eastern Saudi Arabia. The desert hedgehog is one of the smallest of hedgehogs. It is 5.5 to 11 inches (140 to 280 mm) long and weighs about 10 to 18 ounces (280 to 510 g). The quills (or spines to give their correct name) on its back can be banded with coloring similar to the four-toed hedgehog. It is usually identified by ...