A European hedgehog photographed in woodland in Emmen, Netherlands.

European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) — A European hedgehog photographed in woodland in Emmen, Netherlands.

Creator: [Hrald](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Hrald), [Wikimedia Commons source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:West_European_Hedgehog_%28Erinaceus_europaeus%291.jpg), CC BY-SA 3.0. Licence: [CC BY-SA 3.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0

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Species record

European Hedgehog

Erinaceus europaeus

Explore the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The European hedgehog is a mostly nocturnal mammal found across much of Europe. It uses gardens, hedgerows, woodland and other places with cover, and populations have declined in many parts of its range.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Chordates
  3. Subphylum: Vertebrates
  4. Class: Mammals
  5. Order: Erinaceomorpha
  6. Family: Erinaceidae
  7. Genus: Erinaceus

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
gardens and parks, hedgerows and woodland, dry, well-drained sites with cover
Selected regions
Europe
Selected countries
United Kingdom, France

Conservation status

The Ark records: Near Threatened.

Did you know?

  • When disturbed, a hedgehog can curl into a ball using a powerful back muscle.
  • Young hedgehogs begin exploring outside the nest at around 3–4 weeks old.

More images

A young European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus).

European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) — A young European hedgehog.

Creator: [Onésime](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:On%C3%A9sime), [Wikimedia Commons source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jeune_h%C3%A9risson_commun_%28Erinaceus_europaeus%29_02.JPG), CC BY 3.0. Licence: [CC BY 3.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY 3.0

View image source

Sources and attribution