Hedgehog
(in Latin Erinaceus sp.) - is a small ball of more than 7000 spines,four legs and a small tail.It's favorite habitats are edges of forests,gardens and parks.They are active during evenings and nights,resting between five in the morning and eight in the evening.Hedgehogs are rather lonely creatures,and they are easily starting fights with each other.Their life span is from six to ten years.
Senses 五官
their sight and hearing are rather good but the smell is excellent.His nose is always wet.Even a worm hidden 3 cm under the ground will not be safe from a hedgehog.
Appetite胃口
Huge.Especially welcome by passionate gardeners.Hedgehog food includes:worms,insects (bees and spiders),snakes and mice.In critical situations also berries.The hedgehog with the same appetite will consume both,fresh and a bit unfresh food.
Physical strength 体力
crawling (through VERY narrow places)
walking (up to 3 km per night)
running (quite fast)
swimming (through rivers and streams)
Enemies 敌人
foxes
dogs
badgers
birds (magpie,crow,jackdaw,owls)
and CARS.
Defence mechanism 防卫功能
Quick muscle contraction to make a spiky ball.A hedgehog can stay like that for a long time until he feels the danger is gone.
Sicknesses
pneumonia
blindness
diarrhea
coughing
cancer
stress
muscle cramps
Warning警告
Hedgehogs like many other animals are in the danger of extinction caused by a constant decrease of their living places like bushes and hedges and intensive traffic.