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Southern White-Breasted Hedgehog? Slovenia (1 Viewer)

Paul Collins

Well-known member
Hi,

I saw a hedgehog early morning the other day near Polhov Gradec, in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia. I am wondering whether the Western European Hedgehog (e. europaeus) or Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog (e. roumanicus) is more likely.

I didn't have a good view of its underside, and didn't give it any thought at the time. However, I've since checked on IUCN's website and e. roumanicus exists throughout Slovenia, whereas e. europaeus only occurs in the western part of the country, with Polhov Gradec included (just). On the geographical basis, I feel that e. roumanicus is more likely, despite my struggle to pinpoint its diagnostic features.

I'm attaching a phone pic here, and will try to add more later.

FullSizeRender (6).jpg

Many thanks if you can give an ID based on geography or its appearance, and reasons why.

Paul
 
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As an aside (as I'm not greatly into mammals), what is Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog E. roumanicus? My books (perhaps not up to date) don't make any mention of this at all, is it a recent split from E. europaeus?
 
As an aside (as I'm not greatly into mammals), what is Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog E. roumanicus? My books (perhaps not up to date) don't make any mention of this at all, is it a recent split from E. europaeus?

The Western Hedgehog (europaeus) is the UK species also found in Western Europe and Scandinavia.

The white bellied hedgehog has been split into two species Northern (roumanicus) found in Eastern Europe Greece, Bulgaria etc. and the southern (concolor) found in Turkey and parts of the middle east.

Anyway really hard to tell from the photo but probably Northern White bellied on range.


Mark
 
The Western Hedgehog (europaeus) is the UK species also found in Western Europe and Scandinavia.

The white bellied hedgehog has been split into two species Northern (roumanicus) found in Eastern Europe Greece, Bulgaria etc. and the southern (concolor) found in Turkey and parts of the middle east.
My book has two species of hedgehogs, E. europaeus (throughout Europe), and E. algirus (Iberia and southernmost France), no mention of those other two at all (it doesn't cover Turkey though, just Europe).
 
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