As their name suggests, these small mammals are native to Africa. But thanks to the pet trade, they are now found worldwide. They usually weigh between 1 and 1.5 pounds, so they are extremely light. The spines on their back don't have barbs, which is very lucky. Another cool fact about those spines is that they are actually the hedgehog's hair!
This species is unique in that it has four toes on its hind legs, and five on the front. While these guys do have a decent ability to see things, they tend to rely more on smell and sound to get around. They live around 2-3 years in the wild, but can live up to 10 years in captivity. Needless to say, their lifespan doubles or more in captivity.
These hedgehogs can begin breeding at about 2 months of age, and gestation will last about 35 days. Around 6-8 young are born with each pregnancy. They are nocturnal creatures, and actually pretty solitary normally. Much like other hedgehogs, these guys can roll up into a ball if they feel threatened.
These guys are insectivores, which means that they like to eat bugs. They have even been known to eat poisonous spiders and scorpions with no ill effects! Now if only humans had that ability... While they are fairly quiet for the most part, they can make a wide variety of sounds. Hisses, chirps, growl, and even scream!
Hardly anyone has an allergic reaction to hedgehogs, and they are virtually odorless. They are fairly clean animals, and can be trained to use a litter box.
Sources:
- http://www.factzoo.com/mammals/african-pygmy-hedgehog.html
- http://animal-world.com/encyclo/critters/hedgehog/hedgehog.php
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