EuropeNear threatened
European hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
A small night-time visitor to gardens and hedges. When scared, it rolls into a tight spiky ball.
- Weight
- About 1 kg
- Size
- 25 cm long
- Lifespan
- 2–5 years
- Top speed
- About 7 km/h
- Diet
- Mostly insects
- Mammal group
- Placental
How heavy is that?
About 3% of a 40 kg kid
Where it lives
Three things to know
- Has 5,000–7,000 spines.
- Hibernates through the cold months.
- Can walk about 2 km in one night looking for food.
Compare with…
- Weight
- European hedgehog1 kgA 10-year-old kid40 kgThe kid weighs about 40× as much as the hedgehog
- Size
- European hedgehog25 cmA 10-year-old kid1.4 mThe kid is about 6× as big as the hedgehog
- Top speed
- European hedgehog7 km/hA 10-year-old kid20 km/hThe kid is about 2.9× as fast as the hedgehog
- Lifespan
- European hedgehog5 yrsA 10-year-old kid80 yrsThe kid can live about 16× as long as the hedgehog
Food chain
- LeavesProducer
- Earthworms
European hedgehogThis animal- Badger