Atelerix

Atelerix is a genus of hedgehog in the family Erinaceidae. It contains four species, all native to Africa.^[1]

Atelerix[1]
A. albiventris
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Eulipotyphla
Family:	Erinaceidae
Subfamily:	Erinaceinae
Genus:	Atelerix Pomel, 1848
Type species
Erinaceus albiventris Wagner, 1841
Species
A. albiventris A. algirus A. frontalis A. sclateri

Species

• Four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)
• North African hedgehog (Atelerix algirus)
• Southern African hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis)
• Somali hedgehog (Atelerix sclateri)

The Atelerix diversified from its family because of geographical isolation during Pleistocene climate changes. This being a type of vicariance separation from the Niger River. This allowed the Erinaceidane family to be more diverse.

References

1. Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.