News: A previously unrecorded hedgehog species in India, Brandt’s Hedgehog (Paraechinus hypomelas), has been discovered in Jammu and Kashmir.
About Brandt’s Hedgehog ( Paraechinus hypomelas)
- Brandt’s hedgehog is a species of desert hedgehog.
- Scientific name: Paraechinus hypomelas
- Native to: Parts of the Middle East and Central Asia.
- Habitat: It inhabits arid desert regions, mountains, grasslands, savannas, and shrublands.
- It prefers natural shelters but can dig its own dens when necessary.
- Distribution: It is found across Asia, including Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
- Diet: It is omnivorous and feeds on snakes, insects, grass roots, mushrooms and melons, etc.
- Physical Characteristics:
- Size: It measures about 25 cm in length and weighs between 500 and 1,000 gm.
- It has distinctively large ears, similar to those of the long-eared hedgehog.
- It is a faster runner than many hedgehogs because of its lighter needle protection.
- It is predominantly nocturnal.
- It hibernates during colder weather conditions.
- Conservation status: IUCN: Least Concern
