Animal profile

Long-eared Hedgehog

Hemiechinus auritus

MammaliaDry steppe, semi-desert and oasis marginsLeast Concern

Field profile

The long-eared hedgehog is a small desert hedgehog with conspicuously large ears and a shorter spine coat than European species. It is fast on its feet and prefers to run from danger rather than curl up. Its large ears help shed heat in arid country.

Published field notes

2026-04-22

Long-eared Hedgehog

This desert hedgehog runs rather than rolling up

The long-eared hedgehog's usual answer to a threat is speed. It sprints, and its oversized ears radiate heat in arid country where a curled, immobile animal would overheat as well as be caught.

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