Bare-bellied hedgehog
The bare-bellied hedgehog, also known as the Madras hedgehog, is a species of hedgehog that is endemic to dry arid regions and scrubby jungles in southeastern India. As it was believed to be rare, it was formerly listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. It is now known to be locally common in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, resulting in its new listing as a species of Least Concern.
It was also found in Kottayam and Palakkad districts of Kerala.Characteristics
The organism has a head to body length 14–25 cm with a short tail of 1–3 cm. It weighs 310-435 g. The bare-bellied hedgehog reaches sexual maturity in about 10 months and gives birth to 4-6 young per litter.
