The four-toed hedgehog is an oval bodied animal approximately 210 millimetres (8.3 in) in length and weighing between 250 and 600 grams (8.8 and 21.2 oz).

[4] As its common name implies, and unlike related species, the four-toed hedgehog typically only has four toes on each hind foot, lacking the hallux.

However, in some individuals, a small bony lump may be present in place of the hallux, or there may even be a well-developed toe, especially on the hind feet.

[5] It can vary greatly in colouration, but typical wild specimens have brown or grey spines with white or cream colored tips.

[4] Males have an externally visible penis, located in the mid-abdomen, but the testicles are recessed into pouches close to the anus.

It prefers grassy environments or open woodland, and is found at elevations as high as 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), although it is more common in lowland areas.

[4] The main predators of four-toed hedgehogs within their natural habitat are Verreaux's eagle-owl, jackals, hyenas, and honey badgers.

It is highly energetic, sometimes covering miles of ground in a single night as it forages for insects, grubs, snails, spiders, some plant matter, and even small vertebrates.

[4] When encountering a predator, its standard defensive reaction is to tense up all the muscles on its back to cause its spines to stand erect, and then roll into a ball protecting its limbs and head.

[7] Gestation lasts thirty to forty days, and the mother gives birth in a well-lined nest cavity, such as an abandoned rodent burrow.

The young are covered in a thin membrane to protect the mother from their already present spines, though it takes them some time to gain control over the muscles that move them.

Due to the large amount of breeding stock available in captive collections, the four-toed hedgehog is rarely imported from the wild any longer.