West European Hedgehog Erinaceus Europaeus Species Fact Sheet

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

West European Hedgehog Erinaceus Europaeus Species Fact Sheet West European Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Species Fact Sheet Photo Photo © Gaudete Ecology Habitat With a distinctive round body covered in spines the Woodland edges, hedgerows, gardens, parkland. Hedgehog is unmistakable and is a common visitor to gardens and parklands. B&BC Distribution and Status Hedgehogs feed largely on invertebrates including insects, worms, snails and slugs, but also take young mice, frogs and B&BC Status: Frequent occasionally eat fruit and berries. Hedgehogs are nocturnal and solitary, though their Hedgehog records in Birmingham and the Black Country territories can overlap without conflict between individuals. have a broad distribution across the conurbation though they are particularly present in the leafy suburbs. Hedgehogs construct a nest using mosses, grass, leaves and other garden debris. They can be found in areas of dense Due to their nocturnal lifestyle they are probably under- cover such as at the base of thick hedges, under thick recorded in rural fringe/woodland areas. bramble bushes, garden sheds or piles of rubbish. In Britain adults hibernate between November and March while the young hibernate slightly later between December and April. It is normal for hedgehogs to wake up several times over the winter and may often build a new nest. The hedgehog breeding season is from April to August and they typically have one litter of up to six offspring, though in favourable years they may have a second litter. A hedgehog’s life span can be as high as 10 years but the average is just three as there is a very high mortality rate among first year hedgehogs. One of the principal causes of hedgehog mortality is starvation during hibernation though many are also killed on the roads. In gardens, many hedgehogs are killed by hedge trimmers and poisoning by slug pellets. Both foxes and especially badgers are predators of hedgehogs, and they are generally absent where badgers are present. .
Recommended publications
  • Influence of Parasites on Fitness Parameters of the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus Europaeus)
    Influence of parasites on fitness parameters of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus ) Zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines DOKTORS DER NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN (Dr. rer. nat.) Fakultät für Chemie und Biowissenschaften Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) – Universitätsbereich vorgelegte DISSERTATION von Miriam Pamina Pfäffle aus Heilbronn Dekan: Prof. Dr. Stefan Bräse Referent: Prof. Dr. Horst Taraschewski Korreferent: Prof. Dr. Agustin Estrada-Peña Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 19.10.2010 For my mother and my sister – the strongest influences in my life “Nose-to-nose with a hedgehog, you get a chance to look into its eyes and glimpse a spark of truly wildlife.” (H UGH WARWICK , 2008) „Madame Michel besitzt die Eleganz des Igels: außen mit Stacheln gepanzert, eine echte Festung, aber ich ahne vage, dass sie innen auf genauso einfache Art raffiniert ist wie die Igel, diese kleinen Tiere, die nur scheinbar träge, entschieden ungesellig und schrecklich elegant sind.“ (M URIEL BARBERY , 2008) Index of contents Index of contents ABSTRACT 13 ZUSAMMENFASSUNG 15 I. INTRODUCTION 17 1. Parasitism 17 2. The European hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus LINNAEUS 1758) 19 2.1 Taxonomy and distribution 19 2.2 Ecology 22 2.3 Hedgehog populations 25 2.4 Parasites of the hedgehog 27 2.4.1 Ectoparasites 27 2.4.2 Endoparasites 32 3. Study aims 39 II. MATERIALS , ANIMALS AND METHODS 41 1. The experimental hedgehog population 41 1.1 Hedgehogs 41 1.2 Ticks 43 1.3 Blood sampling 43 1.4 Blood parameters 45 1.5 Regeneration 47 1.6 Climate parameters 47 2. Hedgehog dissections 48 2.1 Hedgehog samples 48 2.2 Biometrical data 48 2.3 Organs 49 2.4 Parasites 50 3.
    [Show full text]
  • The Worcestershire Biodiversity Action Plan
    The Worcestershire Biodiversity Action Plan Abstract Following its commitment to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity the UK began to develop a policy and strategy framework, beginning with Biodiversity Action Plans and recently with a focus on ecological networks and green infrastructure. This project contributed to Worcestershire’s Biodiversity Action Plan review process by demonstrating how green infrastructure (GI) can be identified and delivered in the Urban Habitat Action Plan. GI provides multifunctional benefits, so will help encourage biodiversity through a wide network of green spaces and corridors in urban and natural environments. It is crucial that biodiversity is conserved and sustainably managed for future generations because it provides direct and indirect services for people, such as food and climate regulation. i Worcestershire Biodiversity Action Plan 2018 H14 Urban HAP Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Figures ...................................................................................................................................... iii Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................... iv 1 Introduction
    [Show full text]
  • Mammals of Jordan
    © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Mammals of Jordan Z. AMR, M. ABU BAKER & L. RIFAI Abstract: A total of 78 species of mammals belonging to seven orders (Insectivora, Chiroptera, Carni- vora, Hyracoidea, Artiodactyla, Lagomorpha and Rodentia) have been recorded from Jordan. Bats and rodents represent the highest diversity of recorded species. Notes on systematics and ecology for the re- corded species were given. Key words: Mammals, Jordan, ecology, systematics, zoogeography, arid environment. Introduction In this account we list the surviving mammals of Jordan, including some reintro- The mammalian diversity of Jordan is duced species. remarkable considering its location at the meeting point of three different faunal ele- Table 1: Summary to the mammalian taxa occurring ments; the African, Oriental and Palaearc- in Jordan tic. This diversity is a combination of these Order No. of Families No. of Species elements in addition to the occurrence of Insectivora 2 5 few endemic forms. Jordan's location result- Chiroptera 8 24 ed in a huge faunal diversity compared to Carnivora 5 16 the surrounding countries. It shelters a huge Hyracoidea >1 1 assembly of mammals of different zoogeo- Artiodactyla 2 5 graphical affinities. Most remarkably, Jordan Lagomorpha 1 1 represents biogeographic boundaries for the Rodentia 7 26 extreme distribution limit of several African Total 26 78 (e.g. Procavia capensis and Rousettus aegypti- acus) and Palaearctic mammals (e. g. Eri- Order Insectivora naceus concolor, Sciurus anomalus, Apodemus Order Insectivora contains the most mystacinus, Lutra lutra and Meles meles). primitive placental mammals. A pointed snout and a small brain case characterises Our knowledge on the diversity and members of this order.
    [Show full text]
  • Vector-Borne Agents Detected in Fleas of the Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog
    Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2014 Vector-borne agents detected in fleas of the northern white-breasted hedgehog Hornok, Sándor ; Földvári, Gábor ; Rigó, Krisztina ; Meli, Marina L ; Tóth, Mária ; Molnár, Viktor ; Gönczi, Enikő ; Farkas, Róbert ; Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina Abstract: This is the first large-scale molecular investigation of fleas from a geographically widespread and highly urbanized species, the northern white-breasted hedgehog. In this study, 759 fleas (the majority were Archaeopsylla erinacei) collected from 134 hedgehogs were molecularly analyzed individually or in pools for the presence of three groups of vector-borne pathogens. All flea samples were positive for rickettsiae: In two samples (1.5%) Rickettsia helvetica and in 10% of the others a novel rickettsia genotype were identified. Additionally, Bartonella henselae (the causative agent of cat scratch disease in humans) was demonstrated in one flea (0.7%), and hemoplasmas of the hemofelis group were identified inseven other samples (5.2%). The findings of vector-borne agents not detected before in A. erinacei fleas broaden the range of those diseases of veterinary-medical importance, of which hedgehogs may play a role in the epidemiology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2013.1387 Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-91493 Journal Article Published Version Originally published at: Hornok, Sándor; Földvári, Gábor; Rigó, Krisztina; Meli, Marina L; Tóth, Mária; Molnár, Viktor; Gönczi, Enikő; Farkas, Róbert; Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina (2014). Vector-borne agents detected in fleas of the northern white-breasted hedgehog.
    [Show full text]
  • Atelerix Frontalis – Southern African Hedgehog
    Atelerix frontalis – Southern African Hedgehog Assessment Rationale Although this charismatic species has a wide range across the assessment region, and occurs across a variety of habitats, including rural and peri-urban gardens, there is a suspected continuing decline in the population. From 1980 to 2014, there has been an estimated 5% loss in extent of occurrence and 11–16% loss in area of occupancy (based on quarter degree grid cells) due to agricultural, industrial and urban expansion. This equates to a c. 3.6–5.3% loss in occupancy over three generations (c. 11 years). Since the 1900s, there is estimated to have been a total loss in occupancy of 40.4%. Similarly, a Jess Light recent study using species distribution modelling has projected a further decline in occupancy by 2050 due to climate change. Corroborating these data, many Regional Red List status (2016) Near Threatened anecdotal reports from landowners across the country A4cde*† suggest a decline of some sort over the past 10–20 years National Red List status (2004) Near Threatened due to predation by domestic pets, fire frequency, A3cde pesticide usage, electrocution on game fences, and ongoing illegal harvesting for the pet trade and traditional Reasons for change No change medicine trade. For example, there has been an 8% Global Red List status (2016) Least Concern decrease in reported questionnaire-based sightings frequency in a section of the North West Province since TOPS listing (NEMBA) None the 1980s. Simultaneously, from 2000 to 2013, there has CITES listing None been a rural and urban settlement expansion of 1–39% and 6–15% respectively in all provinces where the species Endemic No occurs.
    [Show full text]
  • High Prevalence and Diversity of Extended-Spectrum Β-Lactamase and Emergence
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/510123; this version posted January 2, 2019. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY 4.0 International license. 1 High prevalence and diversity of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase and emergence 2 of Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae spp in wildlife in Catalonia. 3 4 Laila Darwich1,2*, Anna Vidal1, Chiara Seminati1, Andreu Albamonte1, Alba Casado1, 5 Ferrán López1, Rafael A. Molina-López3, and Lourdes Migura-Garcia2. 6 7 1 Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona 8 (UAB), 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. 9 2 IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la 10 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. 11 3 Catalan Wildlife Service, Centre de Fauna Salvatge de Torreferrussa, Santa Perpètua 12 de Mogoda, Barcelona, Spain 13 14 *Corresponding author 15 E-mail: [email protected] 16 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/510123; this version posted January 2, 2019. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY 4.0 International license. 17 Abstract 18 19 In wildlife, most of the studies focused on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) describe 20 Escherichia coli as the principal indicator of the selective pressure. In the present study, 21 new species of Enterobacteriaceae with a large panel of cephalosporin resistant (CR) 22 genes have been isolated from wildlife in Catalonia.
    [Show full text]
  • Additional Records of the Long-Eared Hedgehog, Hemiechinus Auritus (Gmelin, 1770) (Erinaceomorpha: Erinaceidae) from Fars Province, Southern Iran
    Journal of Animal Diversity (2019), 1 (2): 36–43 Online ISSN: 2676-685X Research Article DOI: 10.29252/JAD.2019.1.2.3 Additional records of the Long-eared Hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus (Gmelin, 1770) (Erinaceomorpha: Erinaceidae) from Fars Province, southern Iran Ali Gholamifard1* and Bruce D. Patterson2 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Lorestan University, 6815144316 Khorramabad, Iran 2Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago IL 60605-2827, USA Corresponding author : [email protected] Abstract Iran is home to three genera and four species of hedgehogs in the family Received: 28 November 2019 Erinaceidae. One of these, Paraechinus hypomelas, is known to occur in Accepted: 20 December 2019 Fars Province. In the present study, we report two new distribution Published online: 31 December 2019 records of the Long-eared Hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus from the southwestern region of Fars Province (Varavi Mountain in Mohr and Lamerd Townships in the southern Zagros Mountains), marking a range extension for this species in southern Iran. Key words: Hedgehogs, Hemiechinus auritus, Zagros Mountains, Fars Province, Iran Introduction Knowledge concerning the mammal fauna of Iran continues to grow. It was thought to include 191 species belonging to 93 genera and 10 orders (Karami et al., 2008), but has subsequently grown to 194 species (Ziaie, 2008), and 199 species (Karami et al., 2016), respectively. The small order of Erinaceomorpha Gregory has 10 genera and 26 species distributed in Africa, Asia and Europe (Karami et al., 2016; Best, 2019). In Iran, the order Erinaceomorpha is represented by four species belonging to three genera in one family (Erinaceidae).
    [Show full text]
  • Outline Habitat Suitability Index for the European Hedgehog – Provisional Model
    Outline Habitat Suitability Index for the European Hedgehog – provisional model Mark C Smith Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Developing a model ............................................................................................................................................. 3 2. Designing the Model ................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Model Objectives .................................................................................................................................................. 3 2.2 Creating the model............................................................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Uses and Limitations ........................................................................................................................................... 4 3. The Habitat Suitability Model for the European Hedgehog ....................................................................... 4 3.1 Information ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 3.1.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Complete Mitochondrial Genome of the Amur Hedgehog Erinaceus Amurensis (Erinaceidae) and Higher Phylogeny of the Family Erinaceidae
    Complete mitochondrial genome of the Amur hedgehog Erinaceus amurensis (Erinaceidae) and higher phylogeny of the family Erinaceidae N.H. Kim, S.J. Lim, H.M. Chae and Y.C. Park Division of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea Corresponding authors: Y.C. Park / H.M. Chae E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected] Genet. Mol. Res. 16 (1): gmr16019300 Received September 16, 2016 Accepted December 5, 2016 Published February 8, 2017 DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4238/gmr16019300 Copyright © 2017 The Authors. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 License. ABSTRACT. We sequenced and characterized the complete mitogenome (KX964606) of the Amur hedgehog Erinaceus amurensis to provide more data for comparative mitogenomics of the genus Erinaceus (Erinaceidae). The mitogenome of E. amurensis is a circular molecule 16,941 bp long, consisting of a control region and a conserved set of 37 genes containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA). The mitogenome of E. amurensis is AT-biased, with a nucleotide composition of 33.9% A, 21.1% C, 32.6% T, and 12.4% G. The mitogenomes of E. amurensis and the closely related hedgehog species E. europaeus, excluding the control region (66.7%), share over 90% sequence similarity. According to the inter-generic relationship based on six mitogenomes described from five genera of Erinaceidae, the subfamilies Erinaceinae and Galericinae are strongly supported as monophyletic groups, with each genus well placed within its own subfamily.
    [Show full text]
  • The Contribution to Wildlife Conservation of an Italian Recovery
    Nature Conservation 44: 1–20 (2021) A peer-reviewed open-access journal doi: 10.3897/natureconservation.44.65528 RESEARCH ARTICLE https://natureconservation.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity conservation The contribution to wildlife conservation of an Italian Recovery Centre Gabriele Dessalvi1, Enrico Borgo2, Loris Galli1 1 Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV), Genoa University, Corso Europa 26, 16132, Genoa, Italy 2 Museum of Natural History “Giacomo Doria”, Via Brigata Liguria, 9, 16121, Genoa, Italy Corresponding author: Loris Galli ([email protected]) Academic editor: Christoph Knogge | Received 5 March 2021 | Accepted 20 April 2021 | Published 10 May 2021 http://zoobank.org/F5D4BBF2-A839-4435-A1BA-83EAF4BA94A9 Citation: Dessalvi G, Borgo E, Galli L (2021) The contribution to wildlife conservation of an Italian Recovery Centre. Nature Conservation 44: 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.44.65528 Abstract Wildlife recovery centres are widespread worldwide and their goal is the rehabilitation of wildlife and the subsequent release of healthy animals to appropriate habitats in the wild. The activity of the Genoese Wild- life Recovery Centre (CRAS) from 2015 to 2020 was analysed to assess its contribution to the conservation of biodiversity and to determine the main factors affecting the survival rate of the most abundant species. In particular, the analyses focused upon the cause, provenance and species of hospitalised animals, the sea- sonal distribution of recoveries and the outcomes of hospitalisation in the different species. In addition, an in-depth analysis of the anthropogenic causes was conducted, with a particular focus on attempts of preda- tion by domestic animals, especially cats.
    [Show full text]
  • HWS Newsletter Volume 40
    The Hedgehog Welfare Society TO PROTECT THE WELL-BEING OF PET HEDGEHOGS THROUGH RESCUE, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEM. NEWSLETTER #40, M ARCH /A PRIL 2009 The Hedgehog Welfare Society PO Box 242 SPRING! Where are YOU?!?! Chaplin, CT 06235 www.hedgehogwelfare.org HWS Contacts / Committees Chief Volunteer Officer Deb Weaver [email protected] Vice Chief Volunteer Officer Anne Traylor [email protected] Chief Organizational Officer Vicki McLean [email protected] AdvocacyAdvocacy————PetPetPet----store/USDAstore/USDA Liaison Jennifer Plombon, Kristen Zorbini-Bongard [email protected] Rescue Coordination Sheila Dempsey, Cyndy Bennett [email protected] Health Research and Education Gioia Kerlin, Laura Dunklee [email protected] Snowball Nastuk says, “ENOUGH OF THE SNOW AND COLD!” Rescue Care Packages Jennifer Plombon I’m sure we all agree when we say they should have stuck to [email protected] hedgehogs instead of switching to groundhogs to determine Public Relations Cindy DeLaRosa, Tonya Thomas the weather. [email protected] Chief Information Officer Donnasue Graesser [email protected] In this issue WebWeb----sitesitesitesite Additions/Deletions/Corrections Stonehenge Hedgehog ………………………………………………………………………………...2 Jennifer Sobon [email protected] Thoughts from the CVO ………………...………………………………………………………...…… 3 Maisey’s Costume Corner ………………...……………………………………………………...…… 3 Newsletter Editor Jennifer Sobon To the Rescue ……………………………..…………………………………………………………...
    [Show full text]
  • Hedgehogs (Erinaceidae, Lipotyphla) from the Miocene of Pakistan, with Description of a New Species of Galerix
    Hedgehogs (Erinaceidae, Lipotyphla) from the Miocene of Pakistan, with description of a new species of Galerix The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citation Zijlstra, Jelle, and Lawrence J. Flynn. 2015. Hedgehogs (Erinaceidae, Lipotyphla) from the Miocene of Pakistan, with description of a new species of Galerix.” Palaeobio Palaeoenv 95, no. 3: 477–495. doi:10.1007/s12549-015-0190-3. Published Version 10.1007/s12549-015-0190-3 Citable link http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:26507533 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use#LAA Hedgehogs (Erinaceidae, Lipotyphla) from the Miocene of Pakistan, with description of a new species of Galerix Jelle Zijlstra1 and Lawrence J. Flynn2 1. 2. Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA Abstract Hedgehogs (erinaceid insectivores) are a common element in Miocene small mammal faunas of Pakistan, but little material has been formally described. Here, we report on extensive collections from numerous localities across Pakistan, most from the Potwar Plateau, Punjab, and the Sehwan area in Sind. The dominant erinaceid is Galerix, which is also known from Europe, Turkey, and East Africa. We document a new early species of Galerix, G. wesselsae, in sites from Sehwan, the Zinda Pir Dome, the Potwar Plateau, and Banda Daud Shah ranging in age from about 19 to 14 Ma.
    [Show full text]