And unlike the hedgehogs from the book Alice in Wonderland or the popular video game “Sonic the Hedgehog,” they cannot roll along when curled into a ball. Although fruit, leaves, and twigs may get stuck on one of these “pincushions,” hedgehogs do not use their quills to carry food. The solid ball of spikes is hard for predators to open.Īncient Roman and Chinese folklore tell tales of hedgehogs carrying fruit on their quills. It uses its belly muscles, back muscles, and extra skin to tuck in its head, legs, and tail to curl into a complete ball, protecting its soft belly. When threatened, the hedgehog raises its quills upright in a crisscross pattern, making its body pointy and sharp. With about 3,000 to 5,000 quills covering its back, the hedgehog can protect itself from predators that think it would make a tasty snack. The hedgehog’s best defense against predators is its spiky outer armor. People often confuse porcupines and hedgehogs because the two share a common characteristic: quills!

Is that a porcupine? No! The hedgehog's closest relatives are moonrats, shrews, and moles. Their ears are large compared to body size, giving the spiky little creatures a good sense of hearing. A long snout with a wet nose gives them an excellent sense of smell. Curved claws make hedgehogs amazing diggers. The exception is the four-toed hedgehog that has-you guessed it!-four toes. These interesting critters have small but powerful legs and big feet with five toes each. Some hedgehogs have a dark brown or black mask across their eyes. Their belly, face, and neck are covered in coarse hair. Hedgehogs can be white or light brown to black, with several shades found in bands along their quills. These quills are made of keratin, the same stuff our hair and fingernails are made of.

But the hair on the back of a hedgehog is a thick layer of spikes (or modified hairs) known as quills. A pincushion with legs: The hedgehog is a short and stout little mammal that is sometimes called a pincushion with legs! Most mammals have fur or hair that is somewhat flexible and soft.

The eloquence of the hedgehog