Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Erinaceidae
- Genus
- Paraechinus
Habitat
Indian hedgehogs primarily inhabit arid and semi-arid regions of the Indian subcontinent, including deserts, scrublands, and dry grasslands. They prefer areas with loose soil for burrowing and are often found in rocky terrains or near agricultural fields. Their geographic range extends from Pakistan through India to parts of Nepal.
Diet
Indian hedgehogs are omnivorous, feeding on insects such as beetles and crickets, small vertebrates like lizards, and plant matter including fruits and roots. They forage actively at night using their snout to dig and probe for food. Feeding behavior includes caching food items for later consumption.
Behavior
Indian hedgehogs are nocturnal and solitary, spending days in burrows and emerging at night to forage for food. They exhibit territorial behavior by marking areas with scent glands and are known to curl into a protective ball when threatened. They are generally quiet but may make grunting sounds during interactions.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status of the Indian hedgehog is Least Concern, with a stable population trend. Major threats include habitat loss from agriculture and urbanization, as well as roadkill.