How big does a Daurian hedgehog get? Here is an overview over the average adult age:
A grown Daurian hedgehog (Mesechinus dauuricus) reaches an average size of 21.5 cm (0′ 9″).
When born, they have an average size of 0 cm (0′ 0″). The Daurian hedgehog (genus: Mesechinus) is a member of the family Erinaceidae.
As a reference: Humans reach an average body size of 1.65m (5′ 5″) while carrying 62 kg (137 lbs). A human woman is pregnant for 280 days (40 weeks) and on average become 75 years old.
The Daurian hedgehog (Mesechinus dauuricus) is a solitary small hedgehog. It is listed in the Red book of Russian Federation as a protected species with an unclear status, generally considered to be endangered, although the IUCN lists it as “least concern”. It populates the Transbaikal region of Russia (this region is sometimes called Dauria, hence the name) and Northern Mongolia. It lives in dens and inhabits both forests and steppes. The steppes consists mainly of grassland plains and scrublands. The Daurian hedgehog actively select scrublands and rocky areas, perhaps for greater cover and concealment from predators. This species of hedgehogs are known to utilize larger home ranges than other hedgehog species. The adult Daurian hedgehog is 15 to 20 centimeters long and weighs up to 1 kilogram (usually around 600 grams). Most live up to six years in nature. Like most hedgehog species in temperate regions, the Daurian hibernates during the winter.After introduction and extensive use of pesticides in mid-1960s, the Russian population of the Daurian hedgehog suffered a major loss. Since that time, the species seems to have had a modest recovery, although the population has not yet returned to its original size. Currently, it seems to be moving northwards and closer to cities due to more abundant food, less danger from agricultural activities and newfound human tolerance for their presence. Cases of successfully starting new populations by artificially moving several adults to new areas have been reported. Due to the low population density of the region the complete status of this species is unclear.
Animals of the same family as a Daurian hedgehog
We found other animals of the Erinaceidae family:
- Shrew gymnure with a size of 11.7 cm (0′ 5″)
- Indian hedgehog with a size of 18 cm (0′ 8″)
- Southern African hedgehog with a size of 18.2 cm (0′ 8″)
- Hainan gymnure with a size of 13.4 cm (0′ 6″)
- Southern white-breasted hedgehog with a size of 23.1 cm (0′ 10″)
- Indian hedgehog with a size of 18 cm (0′ 8″)
- Brandt’s hedgehog with a size of 20.7 cm (0′ 9″)
- Dinagat gymnure with a size of 20 cm (0′ 8″)
- Four-toed hedgehog with a size of 15.9 cm (0′ 7″)
- Desert hedgehog with a size of 18.1 cm (0′ 8″)
Animals with the same size as a Daurian hedgehog
Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as Daurian hedgehog:
- Crest-tailed mulgara with a size of 17.5 cm (0′ 7″)
- Jentink’s squirrel with a size of 21 cm (0′ 9″)
- Fire-footed rope squirrel with a size of 20.5 cm (0′ 9″)
- Allen’s woodrat with a size of 22.3 cm (0′ 9″)
- Turkestan red pika with a size of 20.8 cm (0′ 9″)
- Colombian weasel with a size of 21.5 cm (0′ 9″)
- Red squirrel with a size of 21.3 cm (0′ 9″)
- Indian hedgehog with a size of 18 cm (0′ 8″)
- Eastern rat with a size of 17.3 cm (0′ 7″)
- Greater dwarf lemur with a size of 22.5 cm (0′ 9″)