Atelerix
Appearance
Atelerix[1] | |
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A. albiventris | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Eulipotyphla |
Family: | Erinaceidae |
Subfamily: | Erinaceinae |
Genus: | Atelerix Pomel, 1848 |
Type species | |
Erinaceus albiventris Wagner, 1841
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Species | |
Atelerix is a genus of hedgehog in the family Erinaceidae. It contains four species, all native to Africa.[1]
Species
[edit]- Four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)
- North African hedgehog (Atelerix algirus)
- Southern African hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis)
- Somali hedgehog (Atelerix sclateri)
The Atelerix diversified from its family because of geographical isolation during Pleistocene climate changes. This being a type of vicariance separation from the Niger River. This allowed the Erinaceidane family to be more diverse.
References
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- ^ a b Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.