Top 10 Hedgehog Species in the World

Hedgehogs are covered with dense short thorns. Although they are "armed" in appearance, they are still cute. Therefore, they often appear in fairy tales and become interesting image representatives. In recent years, hedgehogs have gradually entered people's lives and become increasingly popular small pets. So, do you know which well-known hedgehogs are there? Today we will take stock of the ten more common hedgehog species around the world, including the common hedgehog, the African mini hedgehog, the North African desert hedgehog, the big-eared hedgehog, the forest hedgehog, the small hedgehog and the Far Eastern hedgehog, etc., to take you to explore the world of these "little thorn balls".

1. Western European hedgehog (found all over the world/Monaco's national animal)

Among the many hedgehogs, the common hedgehog (also known as the Western European hedgehog) is the most familiar one. It is native to Western Europe and East Asia, and is now widely distributed in many countries and regions, such as Austria, Belgium, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

This hedgehog has a round body and a dense brown-gray hard spines on its back. When it is rolled up, it looks like a small thorn ball. It looks cute and is deeply loved by people. Common hedgehogs are not only cute in appearance, but also have ecological value that cannot be ignored. They mainly feed on insects and their larvae, and sometimes prey on small rodents. They play a positive role in controlling pests and protecting the ecological environment of agriculture and forestry, so they are often considered to be humans' "natural helpers."

2. African Mini Hedgehog (Hot Pet Hedgehog)

African Mini Hedgehog, also known as Four-toed Hedgehog, is one of the most popular pet hedgehogs at present, and it can often be seen in major "cute pet rankings". They have a variety of cute body colors, such as white, brown, snowflake, brown and white, platinum, chocolate, black, champagne and apricot, and the face and abdomen are generally white.

The African Mini Hedgehog is petite, round and short, with a slightly upturned nose and a very sensitive sense of smell. It always smells east and west and actively explores the surrounding environment. Unlike other hedgehog species, it usually has only four toes on its front or hind feet, which is also the origin of the name "Four-toed Hedgehog".

This type of hedgehog has gradually become a popular choice for family pets due to its cute appearance, gentle personality and high adaptability. They are nocturnal animals, sleeping most of the time during the day, sleeping for more than 10 hours a day, and only become active at night, eating, playing, exploring the environment, and living a "night owl" style.

3. North African Desert Hedgehog (widely distributed in the North African desert)

Desert hedgehogs are widely distributed in arid areas of North Africa, such as Morocco, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries, and are almost distributed throughout the entire African desert. Desert hedgehogs are relatively small in size, usually between 14 and 27 cm in length and weigh no more than 500 grams. Its abdomen is covered with white fluff, its mouth is black, and its back is covered with black, yellow and white gradient hairs, making the overall color scheme very recognizable.

This species is known for its omnivorous nature, and its diet is very rich. They not only prey on insects such as cockroaches, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, centipedes, but also lizards, mice, young birds and bird eggs. What's even more amazing is that the desert hedgehog can accurately bite off the scorpion's poisonous tail with extremely fast reaction speed, and it remains calm in the face of poisonous prey, so it is also regarded as one of the "most combat-capable" hedgehogs.

4. Big-eared Hedgehog (distributed all over the world)

Big-eared Hedgehog is a popular species among many hedgehogs, and is also a common representative species in the hedgehog species encyclopedia. They are widely distributed in Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, including Afghanistan, China, Mongolia, Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Pakistan, Lebanon, Libya and Cyprus.

Although small in size, the big-eared hedgehog has a round and cute appearance, and at first glance it looks like a furry little ball. But don't be fooled by its cute appearance, this hedgehog runs very fast and can quickly escape when in danger.

Its most notable appearance is the pair of big "wind-catching ears. The length of its ears is generally 37 to 50 mm, and the blunt and rounded ear tips are not only longer than the thorns on the body, but also particularly eye-catching. This pair of big ears is not just for decoration, they are extremely sensitive to sound, which helps to capture the subtle movements of insects at night, and therefore plays an important role in survival in the wild.

Coupled with its pointy mouth and dense long whiskers on both sides, the overall appearance is both clever and cute, and is deeply loved by animal lovers.

5. Hedgehog (endemic to China/can be used as a medicinal material)

Hedgehog, also known as Hou's hedgehog, is one of the more well-known hedgehogs in my country. It is mainly distributed in the central and western regions of China, including Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Henan, Hubei, Gansu and Shanxi and other provinces. It is commonly found in mountainous forest areas at an altitude of 1400 to 2100 meters and is a typical mountain forest wild hedgehog.

Compared with the common hedgehog, the hedgehog is slightly thin, but the overall structure is exquisite; the body color is also darker, and the spines on its back are almost not pure white. The color is more mixed and low-key, which is suitable for hiding itself in the forest environment.

The hedgehog has a wide diet, mainly preying on various harmful insects and their larvae, which is of great significance in maintaining ecological balance and protecting agriculture and forestry. Precisely because it has a strong ability to control pests, the hedgehog's status as a "natural defender" in agriculture and forestry cannot be underestimated.

6. Hedgehog (widely distributed in Southeast Asia)

Hedgehog is one of the most common hedgehogs in Southeast Asia. It is widely distributed in Yunnan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Malay Peninsula and Indochina. It is one of the typical representative species in the tropical rainforest ecosystem.

This type of animal mainly lives in humid tropical forest environments at an altitude of 600 to 1100 meters, including rainforests, monsoon forests and tropical evergreen broad-leaved forests. The appearance of the hedgehog is very different from the common hedgehogs we see. Although it belongs to the same family, it does not have thorns on its body. Therefore, from the appearance, it looks more like a combination of a shrew and a vole.

The hedgehog is small in size, with a long and pointed mouth, flexible limbs and very agile movements. In terms of diet, it mainly feeds on insects, and also eats some fruit plants. It is a typical omnivorous animal.

7. Far Eastern Hedgehog (common in northern China and the Russian Far East)

Among the common hedgehogs in China, the Far Eastern hedgehog is a widely distributed and relatively typical representative. This species is also called the Northeast Hedgehog or the Heilongjiang Hedgehog, and is mainly distributed in the three northeastern provinces of China, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Gansu and other places. It is also widely distributed in the Russian Far East and the Korean Peninsula.

The Far Eastern hedgehog is a large and robust species in the hedgehog family. It has a sturdy body and a full appearance, giving people a solid and thick impression. They play the role of "pest terminator" in the ecosystem. They mainly feed on insects and also prey on rodents. They have significant benefits in farmland and forest areas, so they are considered to be beneficial animals that help agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry.

When facing danger, the Far Eastern hedgehog has a weak resistance ability, and its main defense mechanism is to "curl up into a ball". When frightened or attacked, it will quickly curl up its body into a thorn ball to protect its soft abdomen, while standing its sharp thorns upright to defend against further attacks from natural enemies.

8. Daurian hedgehog (distributed in China/Mongolia/Russian Federation)

The Daurian hedgehog is a small hedgehog that typically lives in arid and semi-desert areas. It is native to central Asia and is widely distributed in China's three northeastern provinces, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, Hebei, and is also found in Mongolia and parts of Russia. They mostly grow wild in arid grasslands, low-lying areas, and bushes in semi-desert areas.

This hedgehog is small in size, with long ears and a relatively short tail. The back is light brown, the spines are mostly dark brown, and the chest and abdomen are covered with gray or slightly orange fine hair. As a typical representative species of semi-desert environment, Daurian hedgehog has strong adaptability and can survive in relatively harsh climatic conditions.

In terms of personality, they are timid and afraid of light, highly alert, solitary, and unsociable. During the day, they usually hide in self-built nests or hidden places to rest, and only go out to forage at night. What's more special is that Daurian hedgehogs have a strong sense of safety when they go out to forage - they often walk carefully along a fixed route, and return to the original route to repeatedly scout after walking a certain distance. After confirming that the environment is safe, they will continue to move forward until they reach the target area.

9. Chinese shrew hedgehog (thornless hedgehog)

Not all hedgehogs have thorns, such as a special species in my country - Chinese shrew hedgehog. This animal is relatively small, with a head-to-body length of about 100 to 125 mm and a tail nearly half the length of the body. Unlike the common hedgehogs, they have no spines and look more like mice, but because their hair structure is similar to the hard spines of hedgehogs in some features, they are still classified as hedgehogs.

Chinese hedgehogs are typical burrowing animals, mostly nesting and living under the roots of large trees, dense bamboo forests, fern bushes, or on the ground covered with rotten leaves and mosses. They hide in their nests during the day and go out alone at night, with obvious nocturnal habits.

In terms of diet, Chinese hedgehogs are omnivorous animals, mainly feeding on various insects, worms, and roots and stems of succulent plants. Their population distribution is relatively concentrated, and they are more common in habitats with suitable environments, and are not as scattered as other hedgehogs.

10. North African hedgehog

The Eurasian hedgehog is a curious hedgehog, which looks very similar to the common European hedgehog, but there are obvious differences between the two. The Eurasian hedgehog is relatively small, with an adult body length of about 20 to 25 cm, and a more compact and cute body.

Although the most common pet hedgehog is a hybrid of a four-toed hedgehog and an Eurasian hedgehog, there is relatively little information about the Eurasian hedgehog itself. As a native African species, it is generally believed that it was migrated to Spain, the Canary Islands and other regions by humans during history, making it the only one of the four African hedgehogs that is now distributed outside the African continent.

In terms of personality and habits, North African hedgehogs are naturally solitary and not suitable for being raised together with their own kind. Once they are raised together, they are likely to fight due to territorial awareness, causing unnecessary injuries. Therefore, if they are raised as pets, it is recommended to provide them with an independent living space to ensure their health and safety.

The ranking of the world's top ten hedgehogs is mainly based on the distribution/popularity of hedgehogs and is recommended based on the relevant rankings on the Internet. The data is as of April 11, 2025. If you have any questions, please comment/criticize at the end.

animal tags： Shrew hedgehog