Erinaceidae - gymnures, hedgehogs

There are about 24 species in this family. They are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The species in this family have rounded bodies, pointed noses, and short tails. The species in this family live in burrows or under logs and eat insects, frogs, mice, worms, reptiles, roots, and fruit.

Hedgehogs have sharp, spiny fur on their backs and sides and roll up into a ball to protect their fur covered bellies. Hedgehogs can even eat poisonous snakes! Hedgehogs are nocturnal.

Gymnures don't have spines, but they have stiff, bristly fur. Gymnures give off a musky smell when they are threatened. They are found in southeast Asia. Gymnures are active in the day.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct Wild Extinct
Status taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

Other Species Around the World
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH
Four-toed Hedgehog - Atelerix albiventris North African Hedgehog - Atelerix algirus Southern African Hedgehog - Atelerix frontalis Somali Hedgehog - Atelerix sclateri Moonrat - Echinosorex gymnura Manchurian Hedgehog - Erinaceus amurensis Southern White-breasted Hedgehog - Erinaceus concolor Western European Hedgehog - Erinaceus europaeus Northern White-breasted Hedgehog - Erinaceus roumanicus Long-eared Hedgehog - Hemiechinus auritus Indian Long-eared Hedgehog - Hemiechinus collaris   Long-eared Gymnure - Hylomys megalotis		Dwarf Gymnure - Hylomys parvus Short-tailed Gymnure - Hylomys suillus   Daurian Hedgehog - Mesechinus dauuricus   Hugh's Hedgehog - Mesechinus hughi   Hainan Gymnure - Neohylomys hainanensis Shrew Gymnure - Neotetracus sinensis   Desert Hedgehog - Paraechinus aethiopicus   Brandt's Hedgehog - Paraechinus hypomelas   Indian Hedgehog - Paraechinus micropus   Madras Hedgehog - Paraechinus nudiventris   Dinagat Gymnure - Podogymnura aureospinula   Mindanao Gymnure - Podogymnura truei

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Brandt's Hedgehog - Paraechinus hypomelas  
Brandt's hedgehog is found in Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Desert Hedgehog - Paraechinus aethiopicus  
The desert hedgehog is found in Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Western Sahara, and Yemen.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hainan Gymnure - Neohylomys hainanensis
The Hainan Gymnure is found in China.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Long-eared Hedgehog - Hemiechinus auritus
The long-eared hedgehog is found in Afghanistan, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mongolia, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mindanao Gymnure - Podogymnura truei
The Mindanao gymmure is found in the Philippines.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Moonrat - Echinosorex gymnura
The moonrat is found in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Western European Hedgehog - Erinaceus europaeus
The western European hedgehog is found in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School