eyes and ears, short, stocky build, and by their entire upper parts being covered in a coat of short spines. Some, but not all, hedgehogs can roll up into a near impregnable ball of spines, the vulnerable underparts and facial region being completely protected.
There is little agreement about the taxonomy of the hedgehogs, even within Egypt. Here, two species are recognized. The Long-eared Hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus is quite distinctive and placed in the genus Hemiechinus based on cranial characteristics, ear size, and the absence of a spineless ‘parting’ on the crown. It is probably the most likely of all of Egypt’s insectivores to be encountered and certainly the most widespread. The second species, the Ethiopian Hedgehog, is assigned to the genus Paraechinus. Some authors, notably Osborn and Helmy (1980), divide the Ethiopian Hedgehog into three species, the Desert, South Sinai, and Ethiopian Hedgehog. The three are differentiated primarily by spine coloration and facial pattern and are considered by most current authors as one species, the Ethiopian Hedgehog Paraechinus aethiopicus, with three geographically distinct populations in Egypt: the Mediterranean coastal desert, the mountains of South Sinai, and the southern Eastern Desert, respectively. Because of the degree of variation within hedgehog species (some authors split the European Hedgehog Erinaecus europaeus into as many as twelve different species,) it is probable that these three are indeed three isolated populations of the same species, which is how they are treated here.
LONG-EARED HEDGEHOG Hemiechinus auritus (Gmelin, 1770)
Pl. 1
Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus)
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: H. a. aegyptius and H. a. libycus.
Arabic: Qunfid tawil al-udhun
Identification: Length 151–245mm; Tail 15–39mm: Weight 400–500g. A small, rather pale hedgehog with distinctively large ears. Upper parts covered in rather short spines, reaching some 1.5cm in length along the back, that are brownish at the base with a broad, cream subtcrminal band and white tip. H. a. libycus averages paler than H. a. aegyptius, with a slightly shorter tail. The underparts are white, often tinged yellow, and the legs and feet, white to whitish. Rather long-legged, especially apparent when trotting. Facial region without spines, with pale brown fur. Snout long and pointed. Ears large, rounded, whitish, and translucent. Unlike other hedgehogs, they emerge well clear of the spines. Tail short. Wide range of vocalizations including snuffling, growling when threatened, and a cat-like hissing.
Range and status: Wide range from Libya and Egypt across Sinai to Israel, north to Syria, south to eastern Arabia, and east through Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India north to Russia and on to Mongolia. In Egypt, restricted to the north. H. a. aegyptius found in North Sinai (few records from al-Arish area), much of the Delta, and both sides of the Nile Valley from the barrages south to just south of Beni Suef. Also the Fayoum, where reportedly common. H. a. libycus is found on western margin of Delta including Wadi Natrun and across the northern coastal desert to Sallum, seemingly a frequent road kill.
Habitat: Not a species of true desert. Generally found around human settlements and agricultural activity. Also gardens, buildings, and more densely vegetated areas of coastal desert, including salt marshes.
Habits: Nocturnal though occasionally active by day. Spends day in a simple burrow up to lm long, which it excavates itself. Diet omnivorous, probably largely insects, but will also take fruit and small vertebrates. Possibly an important pest control. Hearing and scent acute. Predators include the Eagle Owl Bubo bubo and probably also the Jackal Cams aureus, Swamp Cat Felis chaus, etc. Unlike other hedgehogs, does not roll into a ball when threatened. Gestation 36–37 days. Female enlarges end of tunnel to make a nest chamber. Elsewhere, breeding season from May to October with peak in summer. Litter size 1–5.
Associated Species: The Long-eared Hedgehog has been found in the burrows of the Fat Sand Rat Psammomys obesus.
Notes: Kingdon (1997) also assigns the Ethiopian Hedgehog to the genus Hemiechinus but note the differences outlined below in the description of that species.
Similar species: Readily told from the Ethiopian Hedgehog by small size, the very prominent ears, and lack of ‘parting’ in frontal spines. In hand, also differentiated by uniform pale underside. Habitat is also important—a hedgehog in true desert is not likely to be this species. Porcupines much larger.
ETHIOPIAN HEDGEHOG Paraechinus aethiopicus (Ehrenberg, 1833)
Pl. 1
Ethiopian Hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus)
Subspecies occurring in Egypt: P. a. aethiopicus, P. a. deserti, and P. a. dorsalis.
Arabic: Qunfid habashi
Identification: Length 184–258mm; Tail 13–30mm: Weight to 500g. Typical hedgehog form with rather large ears, though not as proportionately large as in the Long-eared Hedgehog. Upper parts covered in spines up to 2.7cm long. Dorsal spines dark, tipped with pale brown. This gives a very dark impression of the back when seen from above, much darker than the Long-eared Hedgehog. Frontal spines divided by a bare patch or parting, extending some 3cm back, but not a field feature. Spines along flank shorter and pale tipped. Underparts white with dark patches, rather variable. Head with rather pointed snout, but not as pointed as Long-eared Hedgehog. Face bicolored or all dark. Snout, chin, and throat dark brown. Forehead to just above eye and down sides pale. Ears large, broad-based, and extending beyond spines. Legs dark brown. Tail short.
Range and status: Egypt, including Sinai, south through Sudan to Somalia and west to Libya, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania. Also Arabia north to Lebanon. In Egypt, P. a. aethiopicus is known only from the southern Eastern Desert including the Gebel Elba region. P. a. deserti recorded from the north coast from Sallum to the western margin of the Delta. P. a. dorsalis restricted to South Sinai.
Habitat: Deserts and semi-deserts, rocky wadis, and plains. Also gardens and oases.
Habits: In Egypt, virtually unrecorded and little known elsewhere. Nocturnal, probably most active at dawn and dusk. Spends day in burrow excavated by itself often under dense shrubbery. Home range probably small, within 200–300m of the burrow. Diet presumably similar to Long-eared Hedgehog, but reportedly more carnivorous including insects, grubs, small vertebrates, and probably fruit, roots, etc. Food may be stored underground. Predators unknown but possibly Eagle Owl. Gestation 30–40 days. Female gives birth to young in burrow or in vegetation. Litter size 1–4. One or more litter per year.
Notes: See comments on family taxonomy.
Similar species: For Long-eared Hedgehog, see previous species.
The Shrews—Family Soricidae
c. 246 species worldwide with 6 in Egypt.
The shrews include some of the world’s smallest mammals and indeed worldwide none exceeds 29cm in length or 40g in weight,
