Skip to main content

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are small mammals that primarily feed on insects. Their body is covered with spines which offer them protection against predators. When threatened, they coil into a ball and the soften body parts are covered by the spines. When the name hedgehog is mentioned or a picture is shown, people usually confuse it with two other mammals: the porcupine (also has protective spines) and the pangolin (also able to form protective coils).



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Egg-eating Snakes

Are harmless, non venomous snakes that feed on only eggs. They are specialised egg-eaters. They swallow eggs wholly, spines in the neck break the eggs, the content is swallowed and the shell spat out. From old text, Ghana supposedly has about four egg-eating snake species. I have confirmed three so far. Two shown here from the Northern savannah part of Ghana and one from the Atewa forest (picture later).  The D. Gansi appears to be the most commonest as i have handled over 30 so far within a 10 year period and only two of the D. scabra and only one of the D. fasciata ? (from the forest) For more details on egg-eaters click here Rhombic egg eater ( Dasypeltis scabra ) Gan's egg eater ( Dasypeltis gansi )

sand boa subduing and feeding on a mouse

demystifying snakes to students