# Northern White-breasted Hedgehog (*Erinaceus roumanicus*) The Northern White-breasted Hedgehog is a small, spiky mammal that loves to roam around at night. With its cute little face and round body, it can curl up into a ball when scared! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Northern White-breasted Hedgehog](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Erinaceus_roumanicus_2013_G5.jpg&width=800) Photo: George Chernilevsky, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erinaceus_roumanicus_2013_G5.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern White-breasted Hedgehog has a body covered in sharp spines, typically dark brown with white tips. It gets its name from the distinctive white patch on its chest and belly. Its face is usually paler than its European relatives, with small ears and a pointy snout. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Erinaceomorpha - **Family:** Erinaceidae - **Genus:** Erinaceus ## Interesting facts - A hedgehog's amazing sense of smell helps it find juicy worms and insects. - Hoglets are born blind and pink, with soft, white spines underneath their skin! - They make tiny snorts, grunts, and even squeaks, sounding like little pigs. - They perform a weird "self-anointing" ritual, spreading foamy saliva over their spines! ## Special abilities - **Spiny Shield:** Northern White-breasted Hedgehogs can roll into a tight ball; strong muscles pull spines outwards, creating a prickly defense. - **Hibernation Nap:** Northern White-breasted Hedgehogs can sleep through winter, slowing heart rate and breathing to save energy when food is scarce. - **Venom Resistance:** Northern White-breasted Hedgehogs have venom resistance due to special blood proteins, helping them hunt small snakes and insects. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.4-1.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-6 years - **Speed:** 10 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-9 - **Gestation:** 35-42 days ## Diet & Feeding These spiny foragers munch on insects, worms, and snails, helping control garden pests. - **Primary Foods:** beetles, earthworms, slugs, snails, small mice, berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — main predator in many habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Eagle-owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-eagle-owl) (*Bubo bubo*) — large bird of prey that hunts them. - **Eats:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — a favorite protein-rich meal. - **Eats:** [Ground Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ground-beetle) (*Carabus nemoralis*) — a common insect prey. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a hedgehog, watch it from a distance and do not touch it, as they can be scared easily. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern White-breasted Hedgehog? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern White-breasted Hedgehog? 20-30 cm ### How much does Northern White-breasted Hedgehog weigh? 0.4-1.2 kg ### How long does Northern White-breasted Hedgehog live? 2-6 years ### How fast can Northern White-breasted Hedgehog move? 10 km/h ### What does Northern White-breasted Hedgehog eat? These spiny foragers munch on insects, worms, and snails, helping control garden pests. ### Where is Northern White-breasted Hedgehog usually found? Grasslands ### How does Northern White-breasted Hedgehog hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Northern White-breasted Hedgehog Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-white-breasted-hedgehog)