Erinaceidae

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Erinaceidae[1]
Temporal range: Eocene–Recent
PreꞒ
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S
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Erinaceus europaeus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Erinaceidae
G. Fischer, 1814
Subfamilies & genera
 †Silvacola
 †Oligoechinus
 †Proterix
 Erinaceinae
o †Amphechinus
o Atelerix
o Erinaceus
o Hemiechinus
o Mesechinus
o Paraechinus
  Galericinae
o †Deinogalerix
o Echinosorex
o †Galerix
o Hylomys
o Neohylomys
o Neotetracus
o Podogymnura

Erinaceidae /ˌɛrɪnəˈsiːɪdiː/ is a family in the order Eulipotyphla, consisting of the hedgehogs and
moonrats. Until recently, it was assigned to the order Erinaceomorpha, which has been subsumed
with the paraphyletic Soricomorpha into Eulipotyphla. Eulipotyphla has been shown to be
monophyletic;[2] Soricomorpha is paraphyletic because Soricidae shared a more recent common
ancestor with Erinaceidae than with other soricomorphs.[3]

Erinaceidae contains the well-known hedgehogs (subfamily Erinaceinae) of Eurasia and Africa
and the gymnures or moonrats (subfamily Galericinae) of South-east Asia. This family was once
considered part of the order Insectivora, but that polyphyletic order is now considered defunct.[1]

Contents
 1 Characteristics
 2 Evolution
 3 Classification
 4 References

Characteristics
Erinaceids are generally shrew-like in form, with long snouts and short tails. They are, however,
much larger than shrews, ranging from 10–15 cm (4–6 in) in body length and 40–60 grams (1.4–
2.1 oz) in weight, in the case of the short-tailed gymnure, up to 26–45 cm (10–18 in) and 1.0–
1.4 kg (2.2–3.1 lb) in the moonrat. All but one species have five toes in each foot, in some cases
with strong claws for digging, and they have large eyes and ears. Hedgehogs possess hair
modified into sharp spines to form a protective covering over the upper body and flanks, while
gymnures have only normal hair. Most species have anal scent glands, but these are far better
developed in gymnures, which can have a powerful odor.[4]

Erinaceids are omnivorous, with the major part of their diet consisting of insects, earthworms,
and other small invertebrates. They also eat seeds and fruit, and occasionally birds' eggs, along
with any carrion they come across. Their teeth are sharp and suited for impaling invertebrate
prey. The dental formula for erinaceids is: 2-3.1.4.33.1.2-4.3
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, but gymnures are less so, and may be active during the day. Many
species live in simple burrows, while others construct temporary nests on the surface from leaves
and grass, or shelter in hollow logs or similar hiding places. Erinaceids are solitary animals
outside the breeding season, and the father plays no role in raising the young.[4]

Female erinaceids give birth after a gestation period of around six to seven weeks. The young are
born blind and hairless, although hedgehogs begin to sprout their spines within 36 hours of birth.

Evolution
Erinaceids are a relatively primitive group of placental mammals, having changed little since
their origin in the Eocene. The so-called 'giant hedgehog' (actually a gymnure) Deinogalerix,
from the Miocene of Gargano Island (part of modern Italy), was the size of a large rabbit, and
may have eaten vertebrate prey or carrion, rather than insects.[5]