Morphological, Morphometrical and Radiological Features of the Male Long-Eared Hedgehog Skull (Hemiechinus auritus)

Until now, hedgehogs belong to the order of insectivora but now they are known as a separate order which named erinaceomorpha. Hedgehogs have been used as pet animals and insect eater. Although many studies have been carried out in terms of hedgehog anatomy including the skull, a comprehensive study was not available concerning the anatomy and radiology of the skull in long-eared hedgehog in Iran. Ten male long-eared hedgehogs were used in this study, weighting between 250 to 450 grams. Five live animals were selected for radiological studies after anesthesia. Some radiographs were supplied. Morphological study was performed in the dorsal, ventral, lateral, and caudal aspects of the cranium. The lateral and medial views of the mandible bone and 10 cranial indices were measured. The important morphological points were: the extension of the nasal process of the incisive bone toward rostral process of the frontal bone in the dorsal view, the presence of a large foramen in the ventral view, the formation of the zygomatic arch by 3 bones in comparison with other animals which made of 2 parts in the lateral view and presence of a very large foramen magnum in the caudal view. The above mentioned anatomical results were noted clearly in the radiographs. Morphologically, the cranium of the long-eared hedgehog did not show significant differences with that of other erinaceomorpha. In morphometrical aspect, the cranial indices of long-eared hedgehog have smaller values than those of European hedgehogs which can be used in osteoarchaeological studies. There are a lot of similarities and some differences in the radiology of the cranium between the long-eared hedgehog and the same body size animals.