habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
The distribution mainly falls within savannah and grassland vegetation types, within which it is found in a wide variety of semi-arid and sub-temperate habitats, including scrub brush, western Karoo, grassland and suburban gardens (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). They require ample ground cover, for cover, nesting and insect food sources (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). Key grassland vegetation types include the Soweto Highveld, Eastern Highveld, Rand Highveld, Carletonville Dolomite, Vaal-Vet Sandy and Frankfort Highveld Grasslands. The main savannah vegetation types include Polokwane Plateau Bushveld, Central Sandy Bushveld, Kimberley Thornveld, Moot Plains Bushveld, and Queenstown Thornveld (Mucina & Rutherford 2006). Northern Upper Karoo vegetation is also one of the important vegetation types for the species. It occurs in areas where mean annual rainfall ranges between 200â800 mm, mean annual temperature ranges between 10â25 °C and altitude ranges between 800â2000 m asl. (Artingstall 2013; Light 2015). On a local scale, the species appears to prefer dense vegetation habitats and rocky outcrops that may provide food, cover and nesting materials. It is nocturnal.Southern African Hedgehogs move slowly but are capable of surprising speed when fleeing. They spend the day curled up in a ball under the cover of vegetation, emerging in the evening to forage (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). They are omnivorous, where invertebrates (such as beetles, earwigs, grasshoppers, termites, slugs, snails, centipedes, moths and earthworms) form the bulk of the diet, but they also consume eggs, mice, lizards, fungus and even dog food (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). This species readily enters torpor during low ambient temperatures or a decline in food availability, spending as much as 84% of their time in torpor (Hallam & Mzilikazi 2011).
Ecosystem and cultural services: Hedgehogs have often been referred to as an eco-friendly form of pest control. Many farmers and home-owners in South Africa have reported actively encouraging hedgehogs onto their properties because they consume a variety of garden dwelling insects, helping to protect their plants (J. Light pers. obs. 2015).
A report on European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) produced by Roos et al. (2012) suggests that hedgehogs are an indicator species. While this was reported for the European Hedgehog, our Southern African Hedgehog plays a similar environmental role and therefore their presence could be indicative of the quality of the habitat and the presence of many other species.
Southern African Hedgehogs are also a common character in African cultural stories and for some are considered good luck.
