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AMPHIBIANS:
Pac Man Frog
BIRDS:
Chickens
Cockatoo, Sulfer Crested
Chinese Geese
Ducks
Helmeted Guinea Fowl
Macaw, Blue & Yellow
Miniature Macaw
Parrot, Amazon
MAMMALS:
Black Bear
Bobcat
Capuchin, Black & White
Coati Mundis
Cougar
Deer, Fallow
Ferrets
Goat (Pygmy)
Hedgehog
Lemur, Ringtailed
Leopard, black
Liger
Lion (African)
Lion (Barbary)
Macaque, Java
Macaque, Snow
Marmoset
Pig
Sheep
Tiger (Bengal)
Tiger (Siberian)
Vervet
Wolves
Zebra
REPTILES:
Alligator
Anaconda
Bearded Dragon
Boa, Columbian
California King Snake
Corn Snake
Iguana
Lizard, African Plated
Python, Burmese
Python, Reticulated
Python, Royal
Skink, Blue Tongue
Tortoise, Spurred
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| East
African
Hedgehog |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
East African Hedgehog can be distinguished from all other species
of hedgehogs because it lacks a hallux (1st toe) and thus has only
4 toes on the hind foot. It also is smaller than the European hedgehog.
They are covered dorsally with a uniform coat of spines (modified
hairs) which have alternate light and dark color rings. Cream colored
fur surrounds the face and covers the ventral surface and flanks.
Ears are broad and roundish.
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| GEOGRAPHICAL
RANGE AND HABITAT: |
Savanna
and semi-arid zones of the northern half of Africa from Senegal to
Somalia and Tanzania. There is localized distribution in that range,
possibly because of the importance of the microhabitat, e.g. they
cannot live in damp areas.
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| DIET: |
| Omnivorous.
They eat insects and other small invertebrates, small vertebrates,
carrion, and some vegetation. Hedgehogs are very resistant to insect
toxins, chemical poisons, and snake venom
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| LIFE
CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE: |
African
hedgehogs are solitary, avoiding other hedgehogs, and have an attachment
to a very small home range. Courtship is an extended ritual. Breeding
seasons have not been noted in East Africa. Two to ten young may be
born after 30-40 days gestation. The newborn have an edematous skin
covering their spines to protect the mother during birth. The young
are weaned in 40 days. These hedgehogs disappear during the dry season
and probably estivate. Life span is 8 years.
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| SPECIAL
ADAPTATIONS: |
| Hedgehogs,
as a group, are the most successful and widespread modern survivors
of this very ancient lineage. Spiny armor is the main reason for
their survival. The ability to curl up involves minor skeletal modifications
- short blunt vertebral processes, small thorax, and wide pelvis
- and the unique circular skin muscle called the orbicularis panniculi.
When that muscle contracts, it forms a bag into which the animal
withdraws and simultaneously causes the obliquely set spines to
become erect.
Both European and African hedgehogs react to strongly scented unfamiliar
objects. They use a saliva marking behavior called self-anointing
in which the animal salivates copiously and plasters the froth over
its sides and back.
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| INTERPRETIVE
INFORMATION: |
| Spines
protect a hedgehog from predators and also cushion the animal if
it drops out of a tree. (They like to climb.) They are nocturnal
animals. They can recognize colors and have a very acute auditory
sense, but the olfactory sense is most important.
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| STATUS
IN WILD: |
| Not
listed as endangered. These hedgehogs are the favorite prey of the
Verreaux Eagle Owl and the local people use their skin or spines
as fertility charms.
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| Special
thanks to the Oakland Zoo website where most of this data was obtained.
Please visit them at http://www.oaklandzoo.org |
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