Algerian Hedgehog, North African Hedgehog (Atelerix algirus)

An insectivore with a head and body length of 194-245 mm. It is smaller and paler than the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Like other members of the same family, the back is covered in spines, which provide protection when it feels threatened. Ears and snout are prominent, and the head is partly covered by a dark patch. In the Canaries, colouring depends very much on the individual, ranging from very light to quite dark, as does the size of the brown ‘mask’ that covers part of the face; in Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, there have been sightings of specimens with no such mask. Originally from North Africa, this species was introduced in different parts of the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote). The first specimens were reportedly taken to Fuerteventura from Cape Juby (Western Sahara) in 1892, and the species had reached Tenerife by 1903. Reports of occasional sightings in La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro may be inaccurate and require confirmation. Maritime connections between the islands could facilitate dispersal. This small mammal occupies large areas of the islands it inhabits, but is most common in areas at low- and mid-altitude, although there are reports of specimens at 2,000 m in Tenerife and up to 1,700 m in Gran Canaria. It is particularly common on arable lands and surrounding areas, pastureland and areas of xerophytic and thermophile vegetation. However, it also ventures into pine forests and, to a lesser extent, evergreen and fayal-brezal firetree and heath forests, and is occasionally seen in high montane scrubland. There is scant information on its diet in the Canaries, but it is known to consume insects (e.g., coleopterans), snails, myriapods, diplopods and the fruit of Plocama pendula, as well as windfalls (e.g., apples and pears). In north Tenerife, its excrement often contains diplopod remains, and in Gran Canaria it has been seen to feed on desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria). It could negatively impact on endemic invertebrate and some vertebrate fauna (reptiles and the chicks of ground-nesting birds), although this possibility requires further study. Information on the biology is scant, but the females are known to mainly produce their young in spring. In other geographical zones, litter size varies from 1-3 hoglets, which is probably true for the Canaries. Despite being a successful invasive mammal, it often becomes roadkill, is affected by chemicals used in agriculture and suffers from predation by dogs. In parts of Tenerife, hedgehogs have a bad reputation among farmers, who believe them to damage their potato crops. Interestingly, hedgehogs adapt to living in captivity with relative ease. In Tenerife, there are several cases of captive specimens that have lived up to six years.