The family Erinaceidae comprises small to medium-sized mammals commonly known as hedgehogs and gymnures. Members of this family are primarily nocturnal and are characterized by a compact body, short limbs, and a pointed snout adapted for foraging insects, worms, and other small invertebrates. Hedgehogs possess a distinctive coat of spines used for defense, while gymnures lack spines and have a more fur-covered body. Erinaceids are found across Europe, Asia, and Africa, inhabiting diverse environments from forests and grasslands to deserts. They exhibit solitary behavior, hibernate in colder regions, and have relatively simple social structures. The family is of interest in ecological studies due to their role in controlling insect populations and their varied adaptations to different habitats.