Erinaceidae

Erinaceidae is a small family of placental mammals in the order Eulipotyphla, comprising two living subfamilies: Erinaceinae (hedgehogs) and Galericinae (gymnures or moonrats). Hedgehogs are small to medium-sized mammals with spines that provide defense; gymnures are generally smaller to medium and have soft fur and no spines. Both groups are primarily terrestrial and nocturnal, with activity patterns that vary by species and season.

Distribution and habitat: Hedgehogs inhabit Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, while gymnures are found in tropical Asia. They occupy a range of habitats, including woodlands, grasslands, forests, and gardens.

Diet and foraging: Erinaceidae species are omnivorous, eating insects, worms, mollusks, fruits, seeds, eggs, and small vertebrates. They rely on a keen sense of smell and good hearing to locate food.

Reproduction and life history: Most species are solitary. Breeding seasons and litter sizes vary by species. Gestation lasts several weeks, and the young are born relatively undeveloped. Hedgehogs may hibernate in temperate regions; gymnures do not.

Conservation and notes: Conservation status varies by species, with some common and others threatened by habitat loss and other pressures. Evolutionarily, Erinaceidae represents a distinct lineage within Eulipotyphla, with a fossil history that extends back tens of millions of years.