Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Erinaceidae
- Genus
- Hemiechinus
Habitat
This species inhabits arid and semi-arid regions, including deserts, steppes, and rocky areas with sparse vegetation. It prefers dry environments in Central Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Eastern Europe, often burrowing in sandy or loose soils for shelter.
Diet
The long-eared hedgehog primarily eats insects such as beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers, along with small vertebrates like lizards and birds' eggs. It occasionally consumes plant matter like fruits and seeds, and is primarily nocturnal, foraging at night to avoid predators.
Behavior
Long-eared hedgehogs are solitary and nocturnal, spending days in burrows and emerging at night to forage. They exhibit territorial behavior, marking areas with scent and avoiding direct confrontations. When threatened, they roll into a protective ball using their spines as defense.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status is Least Concern, with a stable population trend. Major threats include habitat loss due to urbanization and road mortality.