Hedgehogs

In 1817, the Russian natural scientist G. I. Fischer von Waldheim identified the tribe Erinacini ^[5] ; in 1821, the British zoologist John Gray gave this taxon a higher rank by establishing the Erinaceidae family ( shrews ) as part of the Insectivora order ^[6] (sometimes the Italian zoologist Carlo Bonaparte , 1838 ^{[7] [8 ]} gives priority to establishing this family ^{) ]} ).

In 1872, the American zoologist Theodore Gill singled out the superfamily Erinaceoidea as part of the said detachment, which included the Erinaceidae family and a number of extinct families ^{[7] [8]} ; in 1910, another American zoologist, , singled out in this detachment a “section” Erinaceomorpha , which Roger Saban gave in 1954 the rank of suborder ^{[9] [10]} . Over the course of the 20th century, the structure and volume of the Insectivora detachment were repeatedly revised, and most extinct families were derived from it. In 1972, the British zoologist Percy Butler subdivided the shrunken detachment into four suborders : Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs), Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, alkalines), Tenrecomorpha (tenreks) and Chrysochlorida (gold-moles) ^{[11] [12]} .

In the mammalian system, proposed in 1997 by paleontologists Malcolm Mackenna and Susan Bell, the Insectivora order corresponds to the Lipotyphla grand detachment , which includes three orders: Chrysochloridea , Erinaceomorpha, and Soricomorpha ^[13] . However, at the very end of the 20th century, the concept of placental phylogeny underwent significant changes in connection with the use of molecular phylogenetics ^[14] . In particular, in 1998, M. Stanhope and his colleagues, on the basis of molecular genetic studies, identified the tenrek and gold-mole families in the Afrosoricida detachment ^[15] , and the remaining Lipotyphla representatives P. Weddell, N. Okada, and M. Hasegawa in 1999 in the year united in the Eulipotyphla squad (in the Russian-language literature they continue to call the squad “insectivores” ^{[16] [17]} ) with suborders Erinaceomorpha and Soricomorpha ^[18] .

From the results obtained at the initial stage of molecular genetic studies, it followed that among modern insectivore families, the Erinaceidae family (hedgehogs) is the earliest detached branch of the Eulipotyphla phylogenetic tree. Subsequent studies did not confirm this: Erinaceidae turned out to be the sister group Soricidae (shrews), and the Solenodontidae family (alkaline teeth) branched out first; thus, the Soricomorpha group was paraphyletic ^{[19] [20]} . Although the phylogeny of insectivores needs further study, the available data make one seriously doubt the existence of the Erinaceomorpha / Soricomorpha dichotomy (and, consequently, the legality of the allocation of these suborders) ^[21] .

Hedgehogs body length from 10 ( Hylomys parvus ) to 44 cm (some hymns ); tail length from 1 to 21 cm. The weight of the anthem ( Echinosorex gymnura ) can reach 1.5 kg.

The body of the gimnur ( Galericinae ) is rather fragile, and of the hedgehog ( Erinaceinae ) with their sparkling carapace - heavier. If the anthem has a well-defined cervical interception, then in hedgehogs it is hidden under a needle shell. The gymnast ones are distinguished by a noticeably elongated muzzle, while in hedgehogs it is shortened. Like other insectivores, the tip of the muzzle is elongated in the front part and forms a movable proboscis, which is set in motion by the complex of facial muscles. The nostrils are located in front and slightly shifted to the lateral surface of the proboscis, with the edges of the nostrils framed by a serrated crest. The eyes and auricles are relatively well developed. Extremities stop-moving, five-fingered; an exception is the white-bellied hedgehog ( Atelerix albiventris ), which has 4 fingers on its hind limbs. The thumb is not opposed to the rest ^[22] .

There are no sweat glands on the skin of the hedgehogs, and the sebaceous glands are small; there are specific plantar and anal glands. In hedgehogs - unlike gimnurii - the skin is thicker, and subcutaneous adipose tissue is well developed. Significant hairline with differentiation of hair into guides and down. On the face and neck, the hair is short and stiff, the vibrissae are small; on the sides and belly - longer hair growing in bunches. In hedgehogs, on the back and partially on the sides, the hairline is replaced by a needle-like carapace, and strong smooth muscles approach the base of the needles; the carapace serves as a means of passive protection from predators ^[23] .

The shape of the skull varies from elongated and narrow (in the hymnur) to short and wide (in real hedgehogs). Zygomatic arches, widely spaced apart, are well developed. The brain is small. The number of teeth varies from 28 to 44. The first upper incisor (and sometimes the first lower incisor) is increased in size, surpassing the other incisors several times; fangs are well developed only in representatives of the genera Echinosorex and Podogymnura . The chewing surface of the upper molars is formed by isolated tubercles. Vertebrae : cervical 7, thoracic 14-15, lumbar 5-6, sacral 7, caudal 10-25. The structure of the bones of the skeleton of the limbs is close to the original for placental mammals ^[24] .

The stomach in hedgehogs is single chamber. Like other insectivores, the cecum is absent. The number of nipples : from 2 to 5 pairs. The uterus is two-horned. Testes in males are located in the abdominal cavity ^[25] .

Hedgehogs - the inhabitants of forests , steppes , deserts and cultivated landscapes. They rise up into the mountains to a height of 2500-2800 m. They settle under the roots of trees, in dense shrubs, under stones, dig holes. As a rule, they lead a nocturnal lifestyle (although some species remain active during daylight hours) ^[26] .

Mostly omnivores, but prefer animal feed: invertebrates , amphibians , reptiles (hedgehogs are famous for their resistance to snake venom), carrion, bird eggs ^[27] . These are mainly terrestrial animals, but many species climb and swim well.

Hedgehogs may have 1–2 breeding season during the year; outside their hedgehogs lead a solitary lifestyle and, as a rule, have individual sites for food. Pregnancy lasts from 30 to 49 days; in the litter there are from 1 to 7 cubs. Puberty occurs at the age of 10-12 months ^[27] .

Life expectancy is 8-10 years.

In nature, many predators prey on hedgehogs: foxes , wolves , mongooses , ferrets , birds of prey (especially owls ).

Hedgehogs play a significant role in many biocenoses , since they eat a significant amount of invertebrates, mix soil layers and play the role of natural orderlies. As a rule, they have no direct economic significance for a person. Some members of the family act as reservoir hosts for carriers of a number of vector-borne diseases in humans and animals (in particular, fleas and ticks ) ^[28] .

The Erinaceidae family dates back to the Paleocene . Another family of hedgehogs, Adapisoricidae , dates back to the Paleocene, and in the Eocene , the families Amphilemuridae , Creotarsidae , Chambilestidae , Dormaaliidae , Scenopagidae , Sespedectidae , Vastanidae are also added to them, however, none of these families (except for ²⁹ Erinacea ) ^{] [31]} .

In addition to the existing subfamilies Erinaceinae and Galericinae , the hedgehog family also includes three extinct subfamilies: Changlelestinae ( Eocene ), Tupaiodontinae ( Eocene – Oligocene ) and Brachyericinae ( Oligocene – Miocene ) ^{[32] [33]} .

The following is a list of the currently assigned recess genera of the hedgehog family ^[4] and their species.

Erinaceidae Family - Hedgehogs

• Subfamily Erinaceinae - Ezhinye , or real hedgehogs
  • Genus Atelerix - African hedgehogs
    • Atelerix albiventris - White-bellied Hedgehog
    • Atelerix algirus - Algerian hedgehog
    • Atelerix frontalis - South African Hedgehog
    • Atelerix sclateri - Somali hedgehog
  • Genus Erinaceus - Eurasian Hedgehogs ^[34]
    • Erinaceus amurensis - Amur hedgehog ^[34]
    • Erinaceus concolor - Eastern European Hedgehog
    • Erinaceus europaeus - European hedgehog , or European hedgehog
    • Erinaceus roumanicus - Southern hedgehog , or Danube hedgehog ^[35]
  • Genus Hemiechinus - Eared Hedgehogs
    • Hemiechinus auritus - Eared Hedgehog
    • Hemiechinus collaris - Collared Hedgehog ^[34]
  • Genus Mesechinus - Steppe Hedgehogs ^[34]
    • Mesechinus dauuricus - Daurian hedgehog
    • Mesechinus hughi - Chinese Hedgehog ^[34]
  • Paraechinus genus - - ^[36]
    • Paraechinus aethiopicus - Ethiopian Hedgehog
    • Paraechinus hypomelas - Dark - needle hedgehog , or bald hedgehog , or long-needle hedgehog
    • Paraechinus micropus - Indian Hedgehog
    • Paraechinus nudiventris - The Blue - bellied Hedgehog ^[34]
• Subfamily Galericinae - Anthem , or rat hedgehogs
  • Genus Echinosorex - Gymnastics
    • Echinosorex gymnura - Gimnura , or ordinary gimnura
  • Hylomys genus - Small gimnors , or small rat hedgehogs
    • Hylomys megalotis
    • Hylomys parvus
    • Hylomys suillus - Lesser anthem , or small rat hedgehog
  • Genus Neohylomys - Hainan Hedgehogs
    • Hylomys hainanensis - Hainan Hedgehog
  • Genus Neotetracus - Shrew hedgehogs
    • Hylomys sinensis - Shrew hedgehog , or Chinese anthem
  • Genus Podogymnura - Philippine Anthem
    • Podogymnura aureospinula - Dinagata Gimnura ^[34]
    • Podogymnura truei - Mindanaan Gimnur ^[34]

Of the extinct genera included in the Galericinae subfamily, the Miocene genus Deinogalerix deserves special mention, whose representatives were very large (by the standards of insectivorous) animals, reaching the size of a small wolf ^[37] .

Three species of hedgehogs are represented in the fauna of Russia : Erinaceus (species E. europaeus , E. roumanicus , E. amurensis ), Hemiechinus (species H. auritus ) and Mesechinus (species M. dauuricus ) ^[38] .

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• Hedgehog diseases