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Somali Hedgehog

Atelerix sclateri

French: Hérisson de Somalie / German: Somalischer Igel / Spanish: Erizo de Somalia

Other common names: Somalian Hedgehog

Taxonomy. Erinaceus sclateri J. Anderson, 1895,

“Taf, in Central Somaliland [= So- malia].” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Somalia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 206-263 mm, tail 14-20 mm, ear 22-27 mm, hindfoot 25-29 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Somali Hedgehog has five digits on hindfeet, and hallux is small. Dorsal pelage has spines that are dark gray-brown to grizzled black, smooth, finely striated, without papillae, up to 18 mm long, and 1 mm in diameter. Ventral pelage has non-spiny hairs that are white or buffy-white, often with dark gray-brown to grizzled black patches on posterior part of abdomen. Spiny dorsum and hairy venter are well delineated on lowerflanks. Forehead is white from cheek to cheek, there is narrow central parting of spines on crown of head, and black face mask has slight posterior extension of black onto cheeks. Snoutis short, and ears are small, broadly rounded, and shorter than spines between ears. Claws are moderately long, limbs are short and dark, and tail is short, with barely visible, pale hairs.

Habitat. Maritime plain near hills in arid scrublands.

Food and Feeding. The Somali Hedgehog eats invertebrates, small vertebrates, fruits, and fungi.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Somali Hedgehog is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Somali Hedgehog is solitary and probably self-anoint like other hedgehogs.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Anderson (1895), Beer (2003), Corbet (1988), Happold (2013c), Hutterer (2005a), Nowak (1999), Poduschka (1990), Reeve (1994).