Atelerix albiventris
four-toed hedgehog

The African pygmy hedgehog ranges in southern Africa from Senegal to Sudan and Zambia. (Kelsey-Wood 1995, http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/mammals/facts/hedgehog.html)

Atelerix albiventris is found in the desert biome. (http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/mammals/facts/hedgehog.html)

A relaxed Problematic>atelerix albiventrisAtelerix albiventris>>has a generally oval shape. The limbs are short and the animal's round body is low to the ground. The African Pygmy Hedgehog has a very short tail. When threatened, the animal has the ability to contract a series of muscles, rolling itself into a compact ball shape, forcing its quills out in all directions. In a relaxed state, the quills lie flat against the animal's body. The average length of <<Atelerix albiventris is approximately 7-9 inches when the animal is relaxed. When rolled into the hedgehog's characteristic defensive ball, the animal is about the size of a large grapefruit. The species is sexually dimorphic with the females slightly outsizing the males. Typical coloration is agouti. Hedgehogs with this coloring have spines that are brown or gray with cream tips. The face and underside is covered with a soft, white fur. There are other, more rare colorations, although agouti is by far the most common.

(Kelsey-Wood 1995, http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/mammals/facts/hedgehog.html)

The African pygmy hedgehog is a solitary animal. As a nocturnal creature, it constantly moves, covering up to several miles in one night. Although they are not territorial, individuals do keep distance from other African pygmy hedgehogs. For instance, males typically keep at least 60 feet between one another. There are a number of unique behaviors present in this species. One is the process of self-annointing. When an animal discovers a unique taste or scent it creates a frothy saliva which it proceeds to spread across its body in a series of remarkable contortions. The reason for this behavior is unknown. It is most likely related to either reproduction and mate selection or self-defense. Another behavior is the animal's use of summer estivation or winter hibernation to help it survive when the temperature is not at its optimal 75-85 degrees.

(Kelsey-Wood 1995, MacNamara 1998)

Atelerix albiventris is omnivorous butprimarily insectivorous. It feeds primarily on invertebrates such as spiders and insects, occasionally also consuming smalll amounts of plant matter or small vertebrates. African pygmy hedgehogs are opportunistic feeders with an extremely high tolerance to toxins. They have been known to eat scorpions and small poisonous snakes with no ill effects. (Kelsey-Wood 1995, MacNamara 1998)

Atelerix albiventris has some economic importance. In the United States many successful breeders sell animals to the pet trade. Additionally, because Atelerix albiventris eats many things deemed "pests" by humans, the hedgehog's diet makes it an important part of the ecosystem and local pest control. (Kelsey-Wood 1995)

In addition to the wild animals found in African deserts, a closed breeding stock exists in the United States to service the pet trade market. It is no longer legal to transport the animals out of Africa, so their populations there are not threatened by the pet trade. (http://www.lpzoo.com/animals/mammals/facts/hedgehog.html)

African pygmy hedgehogs live approximately 2-3 years in the wild. In captivity, they can live to be 8-10 years old, mostly due to a lack of predation and better nutrition. (MacNamara 1998)