The North African hedgehog (Atelerix algirus), or Algerian hedgehog, is a species of mammal in the family Erinaceidae. It is found in Algeria, France, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia. Little is known about this species of hedgehog, even though the most common breed of domesticated hedgehogs is a result of crossing a four-toed hedgehog with a North African hedgehog. Because this species of hedgehog is native to Africa, it has been suggested that it was introduced by humans to the other countries where it is now found, including France and Spain (including the Canary Islands). Of the four African species of hedgehogs, the North African hedgehog is the only one of these hedgehogs that can be found outside the continent of Africa. Because the North African hedgehog has such a wide ha