Hedgehogs
On my IDEAWILD EQUIPMENT sponsored research in Northern Ghana, Moglaa of Savelugu-Nanton district i encountered several hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs are members of the Insectivora, together with the Rodentia (Rodents) and Chiroptera (Bats) are collectively known as the SMALL MAMMALS.
They feed primarily on insects, however, in captivity, i realised they were able to bite open the stomach of dead frogs and lap at the blood in the entrails. I did not however, check to see if they actually ate portions of the gut content of the frogs.
Fig 1 A mother and its young
Hedgehogs are able to coil into a ball and protect the softer body tissues by the external spines all over their bodies.
Fig 2 below shows a small bit of exposed limbs from the spines
Fig 2
Fig 3 below shows the head of a hedgehog
Fig 3
Hedgehogs are normally confused with porcupines (rodents which also have spines) and Pangolins (also able to coil into balls). Porcupines and Pangolins will be described later
They are nocturnal, thus active at night and rest during the day under debris, rocks piles, etc. The locals in Northern Region of Ghana describe a peculier scent of the hedgehog and my assistant is able to tell when ever we move into an area with a hedgehog present. Immediately he picks up the smell, he is able to track the location of the hedgehog. Unfortunately due to my poor sense of smell i do not have this privilege.
They are nocturnal, thus active at night and rest during the day under debris, rocks piles, etc. The locals in Northern Region of Ghana describe a peculier scent of the hedgehog and my assistant is able to tell when ever we move into an area with a hedgehog present. Immediately he picks up the smell, he is able to track the location of the hedgehog. Unfortunately due to my poor sense of smell i do not have this privilege.
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