The Atelerix frontalis, often known as the Southern African Hedgehog, is a mammal species belonging to the Erinaceidae family. The Erinaceidae family includes moonrats and hedgehogs from all over the world. The Desert Hedgehog, Indian Hedgehog, Hugh’s Hedgehog, Long-eared Hedgehog, and Four-toed Hedgehog are all near cousins of the Southern African Hedgehog.

Sir Andrew Smith KCB, a Scottish adventurer, physician, zoologist, and ethnologist known as the “Father of Zoology in South Africa,” originally documented this hedgehog species in 1831.

Join us in learning about these cute, spikey, creatures that roam about the Namibian landscape at night.

Appearance 

Except for its underbelly, face, and ears, which are covered in fine hair, the Southern African Hedgehog’s body is covered with tiny spines. This species is distinguished by a white band that runs over its forehead and extends over the shoulders to the throat and chest. The width of this band fluctuates, giving the animal a lighter or darker look. It has white spines at the base, dark brown spines in the middle, and black spines at the points. Each hind and front paw has five toes. The length of an adult Southern African Hedgehog, including the tail, is roughly 22 cm. Two sets of nipples are found on the breast of a female South African Hedgehog, while one pair is found on the belly. 

Distribution

Southern African hedgehogs may be found in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, among other places. This hedgehog has two distinct ranges: one in the west, which includes Angola and Namibia, and one in the east, which includes South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Hedgehogs in Southern Africa can be found in a variety of habitats, although they prefer grass and Bushveld (a sub-tropical forest ecoregion in Southern Africa) that is not too wet and has a thick layer of leaves and other debris. Hedgehogs can also be seen in residential gardens.

Habits and Lifestyle

Southern African hedgehogs may be found in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, among other places. This hedgehog has two distinct ranges: one in the west, which includes Angola and Namibia, and one in the east, which includes South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Hedgehogs in Southern Africa can be found in a variety of habitats, although they prefer grass and Bushveld (a sub-tropical forest ecoregion in Southern Africa) that is not too wet and has a thick layer of leaves and other debris. Hedgehogs can also be seen in residential gardens.

Diet and Nutrition

People are generally grateful to have a hedgehog nearby since they devour numerous insects that are considered pests.

Hedgehogs consume eggs, small animals, birds, frogs, reptiles, fruit, fungus, and roots, as well as insects, earthworms, snails, and slugs. Even though they are not totally resistant to the poisons, they have been known to consume deadly snakes (they do have enough immunity to make it safe, though).

Behaviour 

Except when females are raising their young, this hedgehog species is normally alone. Each hedgehog has a 200-300 metre home range from its current location, which is usually a burrow in the ground. This nocturnal animal spends the most of the day in its hole, behind leaves, or behind shrubs, waiting for night to come. When threatened, the Southern African Hedgehog can travel at a remarkable speed of 6-7 kilometres per hour. It also defends itself by curling up into a ball and attacking the predator by leaving spines in its wake. Snuffling, snarling, and snorting are used to communicate with other hedgehogs. When fighting, Southern African Hedgehogs butt each other’s heads. 

Mating Habits

Hedgehogs in Southern Africa are monogamous. This implies that during the mating season, both males and females have just one partner. The male moves in circles around the female at this period. She’ll refuse him for days on end until she’s ready to mate. In most cases, the breeding season is in the summer. The kids are generally born between the months of October and March, after a 35-day gestation period. Litters range in size from one to eleven newborns, with an average of four hoglets. A newborn hoglet weighs about 10 grams. When the young are born, they are naked and blind, and they have newborn spines, which are usually lost by the time they are a month old. Their adult spines are the next pair of spines to mature. Hoglets open their eyes at two weeks after birth and start foraging alongside their mother around six weeks. Males are not involved in the upbringing of the children. Hedgehogs in Southern Africa can breed numerous times each year, with juveniles reaching reproductive maturity at 61-68 weeks of age. 

Population threats

Hedgehogs in Southern Africa are currently unaffected by serious threats. Humans, on the other hand, hunt them as a food source. Furthermore, some southern African societies think that the smoke produced by burning their spines and dried flesh may keep ghosts at bay. Vehicles also kill a large number of these hedgehogs.

Population number

The entire population number of the Southern African hedgehog is unknown according to the IUCN Red List and other sources, however it is ubiquitous and widespread across its known range. This species is now rated as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its population is steady.

Hibernation Technique

Hedgehogs are active when the desert temperatures grow too high and food becomes sparse. This is the summer form of hibernation; the intense heat leads the hedgehog to hide, slow its metabolic rate, and survive off of its stored fat until it can return outdoors. While aestivation is comparable to hibernation, the hedgehog does not sleep as deeply or for as long.

So, if you ever go on safari in Namibia, keep in mind that if you look down at the ground instead of at the giraffes, lions, and zebras, you could just find a small African pygmy hedgehog strolling around.

— Bronwyn Reynolds, Fizzin