🦔
🏷️
Classification
Mammal
🍽️
Diet
Insectivore
⏱️
Lifespan
3–6 years
⚖️
Weight
0.3–0.5 kg
Population Trend
➡️Stable
Description
The smallest hedgehog species, adapted to survive in the harsh conditions of the Sahara and Arabian deserts.
Habitat
🌿 desert🌿 scrubland🌿 dry grassland
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Eulipotyphla
Family
Erinaceidae
Genus
Paraechinus
Fun Facts
1
Desert hedgehogs are one of the few hedgehog species found in true deserts.
2
They can enter torpor during extreme heat, reducing their metabolic rate significantly.
3
Their spines are modified hairs that provide excellent protection from predators.
4
They are immune to many toxins, including snake venom from their prey.
5
Desert hedgehogs forage primarily at night and can travel several kilometers.