Western European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

OTHER NAMES: Northern Hedgehog, Hedgehog

Latin Etymology: Erinaceus ("hedgehog-like") europaeus ("of Europe")

Adult male Western European Hedgehog (subspecies E. e. europaeus) at Geddington, Northants - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: Erinaceus europaeus europaeus

Weight: 1100g  /  Length: 26cm

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern

One of the most iconic British Mammals, the Hedgehog is a widely distributed species found across a range of habitats.  Usually nocturnal, it does occasionally come out during the day, but this may be due to sickness or injury.  Hedgehogs hibernate during the Winter, and can be fairly thinly distributed - it is believed that they are in decline in the UK although within the rest of it's range it's considered fairly stable.

Related Species:
Order: Erinaceomorpha
Family: Erinaceidae
Genus: Erinaceus
SUBSPECIES: E. e. acentralrossicus, E. e. consolei, E. e. dissimilis, E. e. europaeus, E. e. hispanicus, E. e. italicus, E. e. meridionalis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A generally widespread but scarce species

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto