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Handsome Hedgehog
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Reproduction and lifespan
Depending on the species, the gestation period is 35–58 days. The average litter is 3–4 newborns for larger species and 5–6 for smaller ones. As with many animals, it is not unusual for an adult male hedgehog to kill newborn males.
The hedgehog's dilemma is based on the apparent danger of a male hedgehog being injured by a spine while mating with a female hedgehog. However, this is not a problem for hedgehogs, as the male's penis is very near the center of its abdomen (often mistaken for a belly button) and the female can curl her tail upward until her vulva protrudes behind the rest of her body. Thus, the male does not have to get completely on top of the female when mating.
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