Atelerix
The Atelerix genus contains four species of hedgehog. They live in Africa and Europe.
The Atelerix species live across a wide range, and are happy living in grassland and savannah. They are often sold internationally as pets, although none of them are native to Britain.
Species:
Scientific name | Common name | Found in |
A. albiventris | White-bellied hedgehog or four-toed hedgehog | Central and Eastern Africa |
A. algirus | Algerian hedgehog | Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, northern Libya, southern France, Spain, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Malta and Djerba |
A. frontalis | South African hedgehog | South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana |
A. sclateri | Somalian hedgehog | Somalia |
Atelerix characteristics:
These hedgehogs have a central parting of the spines at the crown of the head, and short ears. They have no big toe on the back foot. In addition, they have a whitish band across the forehead.