The southern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor), sometimes referred to as white-bellied hedgehog or white-chested hedgehog, is a hedgehog native to Eastern Europe and Southwestern Asia. These hedgehogs are becomingly increasingly popular as pets in the United States and Iran.[3]
It is very similar in appearance to the European hedgehog (E. europaeus), but it has a white spot on its chest that easily distinguishes them. They weigh between 680 to 900 grams. Their body weight drops no lower than 600 grams during hibernation.[4]
Originsedit
The white breasted hedgehog diverged from a split lineage due to geographical features. The Caucasus Mountains played a significant role in dividing the white breasted hedgehog to southern and northern locations. North of the Caucasus Mountains lies Russia which is where some white breasted hedgehogs are located. Other hedgehogs live in Turkey, Iran, Israel due to the distribution of this species.[5]
Southern white-breasted hedgehog.
Taxonomyedit
For a long time these two species were considered to be one. The northern white-breasted hedgehog of Eastern Europe and Russia was formerly recognized as a subspecies of the southern white-breasted hedgehog but newer investigations see both as different species. The southern white-breasted hedgehog and European hedgehog can hybridize.
Similar White Breasted Hedgehogsedit
Some relatives to the southern white breasted hedgehog consist of the west european (Erinaceus europaeus) and northern white-breasted (Erinaceus roumanicus). These two species are creating gene flow through reproducing with one another and result in generating hybrids. Gene studies were conducted and discovered that the northern southern white breasted hedgehogs have more expressed genes than the west European hedgehog in the hybrid species.[6]
Behaviouredit
Like most hedgehogs, the southern white-breasted hedgehog’s habitat ranges from deciduous forests to parks and gardens. Their diet is the same as well, consisting mostly of insects, slugs, snails, and worms. They also prey upon toxic beetles which they happen to be immune to. The breeding period is between March and July, with up to 7 offspring being produced after a gestation period of about 6 weeks. They hibernate from November to March.[7] Unlike its European counterpart, the southern white-breasted hedgehog never digs dens. It prefers building grass nests in secluded places.
Parasitesedit
The species carries a host of ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas and due to their increasing popularity as exotic pets, this can lead to a potential transmission of zoonotic diseases.[8] Lungworm is another type of parasite in the southern white breasted hedgehog. There are two specific types of lungworms that these hedgehogs can contract Crenosoma striatum and Capillaria aerophila. Southern white breasted hedgehogs can have one or both types of lungworm infections that can be life threatening. Some symptoms of lungworm consist of weight loss, trouble breathing, and less physical activities. Scientists discovered a successful treatment plan for deworming the southern white breasted hedgehog by giving a single dose of Moxidectin/Praziquantel.[9]
Bartonella infection, which is an infection caused by the bacteria Bartonella, was found in 5 out of 57 southern white breasted hedgehogs in a study conducted in 2016. This study was the first to find Bartonella DNA in hedgehogs.[10]
Referencesedit
^Hutterer, R. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 213–214. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^Amori, G.; Hutterer, R.; Kryštufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsainas, G.; Palomo, L. (2021). "Erinaceus concolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T40605A197506348. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T40605A197506348.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Kazemi-Darabadi, Siamak; Akbari, Ghasem; Ebrahimi, Erfan; Zangisheh, Mahsa (December 2018). "Computed Tomographic Anatomy and Topography of the Lower Respiratory System of the Southern White-Breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor)". Iranian Journal of Veterinary Surgery. 13 (2). doi:10.22034/ivsa.2018.137920.1150.
^"Southern white-breasted hedgehog". D.T.R.O.O.W. (in Indonesian). 2015-05-30. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
^Seddon, J. M.; Santucci, F.; Reeve, N.; Hewitt, G. M. (2002-05-01). "Caucasus Mountains divide postulated postglacial colonization routes in the white-breasted hedgehog, Erinaceus concolor". Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 15 (3): 463–467. doi:10.1046/j.1420-9101.2002.00408.x. ISSN 1010-061X.
^Zolotareva, Katerina I; Belokon, Mariana M; Belokon, Yuri S; Rutovskaya, Marina V; Hlyap, Ludmila A; Starykov, Vladimir P; Politov, Dmitry V; Lebedev, Vladimir S; Bannikova, Anna A (2020-12-05). "Genetic diversity and structure of the hedgehogsErinaceus europaeusandErinaceus roumanicus: evidence for ongoing hybridization in Eastern Europe". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 132 (1): 174–195. doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blaa135. ISSN 0024-4066.
^"Southern white-breasted hedgehog". D.T.R.O.O.W. (in Indonesian). 2015-05-30. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
^Adam, Nitzan; Eshar, David (April 2024). "Use of a commercial oral moxidectin plus praziquantel combination for treatment of the respiratory nematode Crenosoma striatum in rescued Southern white-breasted hedgehogs (Erinaceus concolor)". Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. 48: 17–19. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2023.11.001.
^Marciano, Odelya; Gutiérrez, Ricardo; Morick, Danny; King, Roni; Nachum-Biala, Yaarit; Baneth, Gad; Harrus, Shimon (2016-04-13). "Detection of Bartonella spp. in wild carnivores, hyraxes, hedgehog and rodents from Israel". Parasitology. 143 (10): 1232–1242. doi:10.1017/s0031182016000603. ISSN 0031-1820. PMID 27210612.
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southern, white, breasted, hedgehog, southern, white, breasted, hedgehog, erinaceus, concolor, sometimes, referred, white, bellied, hedgehog, white, chested, hedgehog, hedgehog, native, eastern, europe, southwestern, asia, these, hedgehogs, becomingly, increas. The southern white breasted hedgehog Erinaceus concolor sometimes referred to as white bellied hedgehog or white chested hedgehog is a hedgehog native to Eastern Europe and Southwestern Asia These hedgehogs are becomingly increasingly popular as pets in the United States and Iran 3 Southern white breasted hedgehog 1 Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 2 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Eulipotyphla Family Erinaceidae Genus Erinaceus Species E concolor Binomial name Erinaceus concolorMartin 1838 Range of the southern white breasted hedgehog red Contents 1 Description 2 Origins 3 Taxonomy 4 Similar White Breasted Hedgehogs 5 Behaviour 6 Parasites 7 ReferencesDescription editIt is very similar in appearance to the European hedgehog E europaeus but it has a white spot on its chest that easily distinguishes them They weigh between 680 to 900 grams Their body weight drops no lower than 600 grams during hibernation 4 Origins editThe white breasted hedgehog diverged from a split lineage due to geographical features The Caucasus Mountains played a significant role in dividing the white breasted hedgehog to southern and northern locations North of the Caucasus Mountains lies Russia which is where some white breasted hedgehogs are located Other hedgehogs live in Turkey Iran Israel due to the distribution of this species 5 nbsp Southern white breasted hedgehog Taxonomy editFor a long time these two species were considered to be one The northern white breasted hedgehog of Eastern Europe and Russia was formerly recognized as a subspecies of the southern white breasted hedgehog but newer investigations see both as different species The southern white breasted hedgehog and European hedgehog can hybridize Similar White Breasted Hedgehogs editSome relatives to the southern white breasted hedgehog consist of the west european Erinaceus europaeus and northern white breasted Erinaceus roumanicus These two species are creating gene flow through reproducing with one another and result in generating hybrids Gene studies were conducted and discovered that the northern southern white breasted hedgehogs have more expressed genes than the west European hedgehog in the hybrid species 6 Behaviour editLike most hedgehogs the southern white breasted hedgehog s habitat ranges from deciduous forests to parks and gardens Their diet is the same as well consisting mostly of insects slugs snails and worms They also prey upon toxic beetles which they happen to be immune to The breeding period is between March and July with up to 7 offspring being produced after a gestation period of about 6 weeks They hibernate from November to March 7 Unlike its European counterpart the southern white breasted hedgehog never digs dens It prefers building grass nests in secluded places Parasites editThe species carries a host of ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas and due to their increasing popularity as exotic pets this can lead to a potential transmission of zoonotic diseases 8 Lungworm is another type of parasite in the southern white breasted hedgehog There are two specific types of lungworms that these hedgehogs can contract Crenosoma striatum and Capillaria aerophila Southern white breasted hedgehogs can have one or both types of lungworm infections that can be life threatening Some symptoms of lungworm consist of weight loss trouble breathing and less physical activities Scientists discovered a successful treatment plan for deworming the southern white breasted hedgehog by giving a single dose of Moxidectin Praziquantel 9 Bartonella infection which is an infection caused by the bacteria Bartonella was found in 5 out of 57 southern white breasted hedgehogs in a study conducted in 2016 This study was the first to find Bartonella DNA in hedgehogs 10 References edit Hutterer R 2005 Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press pp 213 214 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 Amori G Hutterer R Krystufek B Yigit N Mitsainas G Palomo L 2021 Erinaceus concolor IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T40605A197506348 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 1 RLTS T40605A197506348 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Kazemi Darabadi Siamak Akbari Ghasem Ebrahimi Erfan Zangisheh Mahsa December 2018 Computed Tomographic Anatomy and Topography of the Lower Respiratory System of the Southern White Breasted Hedgehog Erinaceus concolor Iranian Journal of Veterinary Surgery 13 2 doi 10 22034 ivsa 2018 137920 1150 Southern white breasted hedgehog D T R O O W in Indonesian 2015 05 30 Retrieved 2024 04 12 Seddon J M Santucci F Reeve N Hewitt G M 2002 05 01 Caucasus Mountains divide postulated postglacial colonization routes in the white breasted hedgehog Erinaceus concolor Journal of Evolutionary Biology 15 3 463 467 doi 10 1046 j 1420 9101 2002 00408 x ISSN 1010 061X Zolotareva Katerina I Belokon Mariana M Belokon Yuri S Rutovskaya Marina V Hlyap Ludmila A Starykov Vladimir P Politov Dmitry V Lebedev Vladimir S Bannikova Anna A 2020 12 05 Genetic diversity and structure of the hedgehogsErinaceus europaeusandErinaceus roumanicus evidence for ongoing hybridization in Eastern Europe Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 132 1 174 195 doi 10 1093 biolinnean blaa135 ISSN 0024 4066 Southern white breasted hedgehog D T R O O W in Indonesian 2015 05 30 Retrieved 2024 04 12 Girisgin V Senlik B Aydin L amp Cirak V Y 2015 July 7 Ectoparasites of hedgehogs Erinaceus concolor from Turkey Vetline Retrieved October 27 2023 from https www vetline de ectoparasites of hedgehogs erinaceus concolor from turkey DOI10 2376 0005 9366 128 315 Adam Nitzan Eshar David April 2024 Use of a commercial oral moxidectin plus praziquantel combination for treatment of the respiratory nematode Crenosoma striatum in rescued Southern white breasted hedgehogs Erinaceus concolor Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 48 17 19 doi 10 1053 j jepm 2023 11 001 Marciano Odelya Gutierrez Ricardo Morick Danny King Roni Nachum Biala Yaarit Baneth Gad Harrus Shimon 2016 04 13 Detection of Bartonella spp in wild carnivores hyraxes hedgehog and rodents from Israel Parasitology 143 10 1232 1242 doi 10 1017 s0031182016000603 ISSN 0031 1820 PMID 27210612 nbsp This Erinaceidae article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Southern white breasted hedgehog amp oldid 1219542668, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
