Mammals of the WorldIndian Long-eared Hedgehog
Hemiechinus collaris
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Erinaceidae
- Genus
- Hemiechinus
- IUCN status
- LC
- Distribution
- Pakistan|India
- Realm
- Palearctic
Other names: Collared Hedgehog|Hardwicke's Hedgehog|Long-eared Desert Hedgehog
About this species
- Size
- About 17cm
- Weight
- 200–500g
- Diet
- Small insects
- Habitat
- Burrows
- Range
- Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in India, and Pakistan
The Indian long-eared hedgehog is a small hedgehog, about 17 cm long and 200–500 g. It has well-developed senses, with large ears and eyes and whiskers near the snout, and can erect its spines for protection. It is native to northern India and Pakistan, and in India is found in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is insectivorous and nocturnal and is often found in burrows. It breeds seasonally, and the courtship is notably complex, involving dancing around the female for several days before mating. It has been noted as a carrier of tick-borne diseases (Wikipedia, general species account).
Description: Wildlife of India guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)