Wildlifeof India
Indian Hedgehog
Pangolins, Hares, Pikas & Shrews
Photo: (c) Ashwin Viswanathan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Paraechinus micropus
Basic stats
Diet
Insects (preferably beetles), worms, slugs, frogs, toads, bird eggs, snakes and scorpions
Habitat
Mainly sandy desert, in vacant burrows; other environments too
Range
India and Pakistan
Size
Tail only 2–4cm
The Indian hedgehog is a stocky animal with a short head, a long snout, small dark eyes and relatively large ears. It is predominantly brown with a few lighter shades, with a masked face, dark with a white top, and grey-brown legs with five toes bearing small, strong claws. The tail is only 2–4 cm long. It is native to India and Pakistan (Wikipedia, general species account).
It mainly lives in sandy desert areas but can be found in other environments. It digs burrows about 45 cm long and also uses any vacant open burrow. It has a very varied diet, taking insects, preferably beetles, worms, slugs, frogs, toads, bird eggs, snakes and scorpions. Like all hedgehogs it self-anoints, and males and females meet only to breed (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Indian Hedgehog eat?
- Insects (preferably beetles), worms, slugs, frogs, toads, bird eggs, snakes and scorpions
- What habitat does the Indian Hedgehog live in?
- Mainly sandy desert, in vacant burrows; other environments too
- Where is the Indian Hedgehog found?
- India and Pakistan
- How big is the Indian Hedgehog?
- Tail only 2–4cm