African pygmy hedgehogs are also exposed to humans from a young age likely making them tamer than a true wild animal. There might not be obvious differences between hedgehogs existing in the wild and the mass produced domestic pets that we know, but given that hedgehogs have been bred in captivity for many generations, itвЂ™s likely that they have enhanced adaptability to the domestic environment because hedgehogs that are nervous around humans wonвЂ™t tend to breed as well as those that do. If a domesticated animal is understood to be a species selectively-bred under human-controlled conditions for generations to meet human needs, a hedgehog can and should be considered as such. Hedgehogs are often described as exotic pets simply because they are less common than dogs and cats and they are even referred to as wild animals. Hedgehogs became popular вЂfad petsвЂ™ in the 80вЂ™s with large numbers imported.Hedgehogs (and porcupines) cannot shoot their quills.Not related to porcupines, tenrecs, or rodents.Hedgehogs are in the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae - share distant ancestry with shrews.Hedgehog average lifespan is 3.5-5 years, maximum 9 years.In captivity there are 92 recognized hedgehog variations.It is much more probable that the so-called African pygmy hedgehog, of which the name was coined by American breeders, is a domesticated white-bellied hedgehog that could possibly be crossed with a subspecies, as true hybrids tend to have reduced fertility. It is often stated that these prickly insectivores are actually a hybrid species between the four-toed or white-bellied hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) and the North African or Algerian hedgehog (Atelerix algirus), however this remains just a popular theory.

Hedgehogs are often referred to the group of вЂpocket petsвЂ™ or small mammals, there is the generically-named African hedgehog, which has become relatively popular for an exotic pet.

Cutebaby hedgehog clipart