What is the hedgehog food?

the Hedgehog 
The hedgehog belongs to the mammalian group . It has small ears and small rectangular mouth. Its neck is very short and its feet are also short. It is known that the back side of the body is covered with several thousand sharp thorns to protect it from His enemies, these thorns are hollow hair covered with a layer of keratin , unlike the thorns of some other animals they are attached to the body of the hedgehog and is not separated easily. 

 The hedgehog is classified as a winter-dwelling animal; it spends winter sleeping in hidden hideouts, such as burrows, piles of wood and straw, and consumes the fat it collects in its body during the warmer periods of the year, wakes up during the spring, He goes out to look for food and reproduction. By nature, he lives on land alone, but he can swim and climb trees when he needs to. 


 The hedgehog is a relatively small animal, weighing almost 700 g and the heaviest of its kind (a Western European hedgehog) weighing no more than 1,1 kg. Its length is from 14 to 30 centimeters, consisting of several centimeters of its thick, furless tail. [2] Hedgehog is a common animal. It is found in most parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, and has helped humans move to many remote islands, such as the Mediterranean islands and the island of New Zealand. [3] 

What is hedgehog food?

 The hedgehog is an animal with a nightly activity, hiding in the daytime under plant leaves or in the cracks of rocks and caves. It may live in an underground hole dug by its small feet and wait until evening. Hedgehogs go out in the evening to feed and harvest, and become more active in this period of the day than others. However, the Hedgehog at certain times tends to go out and hunt during the day, especially after light rainfall. [2] These animals feed on insects, such as worms, cockroaches and even beetles, as well as broccoli, caterpillars and other small invertebrates, as well as the fruits of plants such as raspberries. They do not care if they eat poison; they can eat large amounts of venom, feeding on scorpions and lizards Even frogs and other reptiles and amphibians , and also feed on small-sized mice, on snails and molluscs, as well as bird eggs, birds, plants and various fruits. [4]

 Types of hedgehogs

 There are many types of hedgehogs. These animals are classified into five major groups called each. All species of hedgehogs are similar in appearance to each other, but some species that live in deserts have large ears and long legs. The rough coarse fur that covers his belly ranges from white to black by type, and is sometimes spotted. Three species of hedgehogs live in Asia and Europe. The most common species of hedgehogs in Europe and in all pet shops around the world are those with short ears and long nose. They are located in areas of Jordan and Palestine, as well as in LebanonSyria, and in some parts of Iraq. This type is called Western European Hedgehog (West European Hedgehog), and is also known as the fashionable hedgehog. There are also four species of hedgehogs that inhabit Europe, and will only be found in the deserts , and two live in the steppes of northern Russia (Steppes), but almost all pet hedgehogs are European. [2]

 Life Cycle of the Hedgehog

 The hedgehogs multiply between July and September, and their gestation lasts for about a month to less than two months, specifically 35 days to 58 days. This period depends on the hedgehog species. Hedgehogs represent a whole mammal species of about 17 distributed species On five races (subsets). The female gives birth between 3 and 6 years old, known as the "shohb", who gives birth once a year, and is born when he is born without thorns on his back. After the first week, he opens his eyes and can eat after three weeks. These creatures exist in Asia, Africa and Europe. [2]

 Defense of the hedgehog 

The hedgehog is a high-defense animal, and it begins to rise very quickly when any dangerous creature comes close to it, issuing warning sounds of defamation, and banging its throats to threaten its enemy. The hedgehogs are very difficult to penetrate; when the hedgehog feels threatened and with his enemies such as snakes, dogs and other large animals, he resorts to bouncing on himself. All kinds of hedgehogs are able to wrap around themselves so as to protect each side of their body with their sharp thorns, The hedgehog has its tail with its mouth so that there is no part of its body visible to its enemies; it is very difficult to penetrate or eat this ball, which drives most predators to get away from it. [1]Hedgehogs can surround themselves with a special muscle that wraps around their entire body, from the neck to the buttocks. This muscle is located directly under the skin from which the hedgehog sprang, and when it contracts, it allows each body to flex easily.