Brandt’s Hedgehog: Desert and Steppe Mammal

Category: Environment & Biodiversity

  • Brandt's hedgehog is a species of hedgehog found mainly in parts of Central and Southwest Asia.
  • Scientific name: Paraechinus hypomelas.
  • It is adapted to arid and semi-arid environments.
  • Its body is covered with protective spines that provide defence against predators.
  • It is primarily nocturnal.
  • It feeds on insects and other small organisms.
  • UPSC Focus: Desert ecosystems, mammalian adaptations, Central Asian biodiversity.