East European Hedgehog

The southern white-breasted hedgehog, also known as the white-bellied or white-chested hedgehog, originates from Southwestern Asia. At first glance, it closely resembles the European hedgehog; however, it can be distinguished by a distinctive white spot on its chest. For a long time, these two species were believed to be identical. Nevertheless, recent studies have confirmed that they are indeed separate species.

Another intriguing aspect of the hedgehog family tree is the northern white-breasted hedgehog. It was once thought to be merely a subspecies of the southern white-breasted hedgehog, but it is now recognized as a distinct species. Interestingly, southern white-breasted hedgehogs and European hedgehogs are capable of interbreeding.

One more distinctive feature of the southern white-breasted hedgehog, compared to its European counterpart, is its nesting habits. Instead of digging dens, it prefers to construct cozy grass nests in secluded areas.