Why do hedgehogs have spines?
For grown-ups: the science
Hedgehog spines help protect their bodies. When something scary comes close, they curl up and hide their bellies and faces behind the spines.
A hedgehog's spines are special hairs made mostly of keratin. They cover its back and sides. When it senses danger, muscles under its skin help it curl up, hiding its soft belly and face inside. Hedgehogs cannot shoot their spines. Different kinds of hedgehogs can have different spine lengths, numbers of spines, and ways of curling up.
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Transcript
Look at all the prickly spines on a hedgehog's back. What do they help it do?
A hedgehog's spines are hairs that have grown hard. They cover its back and protect its body.
When a hedgehog notices something scary, it curls into a ball. This points its spines outward.
With its belly and face tucked inside, it looks like a spiky ball. That makes it hard for another animal to grab.
Its spines help hide and protect its body. They are an important shield for a hedgehog.