General Overview
The Erinaceidae family includes hedgehogs and gymnures, small to medium-sized mammals distributed across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Hedgehogs are best known for their spiny coats and defensive behavior, while gymnures, sometimes called “hairy hedgehogs,” lack spines and resemble large shrews. There are around 24 living species in this family. Hedgehogs, in particular, are widely recognized and have long been a part of folklore, while both groups play important ecological roles as insectivores in their respective habitats.
Appearance
Members of Erinaceidae have compact, rounded bodies with short legs and small eyes. Hedgehogs are covered in stiff, modified hairs that form protective spines on their backs, which they use for defense by rolling into a tight ball. Gymnures lack spines and instead have coarse fur, giving them a more rodent- or shrew-like appearance. Both hedgehogs and gymnures have elongated snouts used to root through soil and leaf litter. Tails are typically short, though more visible in gymnures than in hedgehogs.
Diet
Erinaceids are omnivorous but primarily insectivorous. Their diet includes beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, slugs, and other invertebrates. They also consume small vertebrates, eggs, fungi, fruits, and plant matter when available. Their opportunistic feeding habits allow them to exploit a wide variety of food sources, making them adaptable to many environments. Hedgehogs in particular are well known for their role in controlling insect and pest populations.
Habitat
Erinaceidae occupy diverse habitats, including forests, grasslands, scrublands, savannas, and deserts. Hedgehogs are particularly adaptable and are found in both rural and urban settings, often thriving in gardens and agricultural areas. Gymnures are more restricted to forested or densely vegetated habitats in parts of Southeast Asia. Most species use burrows, natural cavities, or dense vegetation for shelter and nesting.
Behavior
Hedgehogs are solitary and primarily nocturnal, emerging at night to forage. Their most distinctive behavior is rolling into a spiny ball when threatened, an effective defense against predators. Many species hibernate in colder climates or enter torpor during hot, dry periods. Gymnures, in contrast, are not spiny and rely on speed, agility, and a strong odor secreted from scent glands for defense. Breeding is seasonal, with females raising small litters of altricial young in hidden nests. Communication is limited but may include grunts, snuffles, and scent marking.
