A hedgehog is a spiny mammal of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction. There are no hedgehogs native to Australia and no living species native to the Americas.

The hedgehog is a small mammal covered in spines, estimated to have evolved approximately 15 million years ago! It is an insectivore that is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. The hedgehog has also been introduced to New Zealand, where it is considered to be a pest.

By rolling up into a tight ball and erecting their spines, hedgehogs can protect themselves from most natural enemies. They have a short inconspicuous tail, small ears and relatively long legs, normally hidden under a ’skirt’ of long hairs. They are usually thought of as slow animals but they can move up to 40 metres a minute.