African Pigmy Hedgehogs are native to the region from Senegal west to Somalia and Kenya and south to Zambia. Other species, however, are sometimes incorrectly sold under the name A. Albiventris. The little Hedgehog that has become the boom pet of the 90's and the new milennium and the king of the mammalian exotics is the African Pigmy Hedgehog, also know as the white-bellied, four toed, East African, or dwarf Hedgehog.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal members of a very primitive order of mammals called Insectivora.
There are about 14 species of Hedgehogs whose native habitats include Europe, Asia, and Africa. No species is native to Australia or the Americas. These mammals are not related to either the echidna of Australia, which is monotreme or egg laying mammal, or to the porcupine, which is a rodent. Adult Hedgehogs of all species range in size from 5 to 12 inches and weigh between 8 and 39 ounces, depending on the species. Their color ranges from white to dark brown, though most are agouti, qa mixture of cream, brown, and white banded spines.