hedgehog
Curls when threatened
A hedgehog is a small nocturnal mammal covered in stiff spines, which it erects by rolling into a ball when threatened.
Native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, hedgehogs root through underbrush eating insects and small creatures.
They've become popular as pets: Our hedgehog likes to burrow under blankets.
In military usage, a hedgehog is a defensive position bristling with obstacles or weapons in all directions.
Hollow defensive animal spikes
- pricklySpiny or irritable
- bristlyCovered with stiff hairs
- spinyHaving sharp points
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
pointed · barbed · needle-like · defensive · erectile · keratin · spiky · stiff
Egg-laying spined mammal
- shrewIll-tempered woman, or insectivore
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- moonratMalodorous Southeast Asian insectivore
- snoutBeast's protruding face
whiskers · fur · paws · burrow · nest · litter · hoglet · hibernate
Blue gaming icon
- petDomesticated household companion
- rescueSave from harm
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
- BritishOf the United Kingdom
folklore · lucky · charm · symbol · mascot · hedgerow · countryside
Spiral or loop form
- ballSpherical plaything or gala
- tuckFold into concealment
- coilWound circular arrangement
- retractWithdraw something said
protect · shelter · armor · deterrent · camouflage · survival · evasion · vigilance
Light after sunset
- duskDimming after sundown
- nightfallOnset of darkness
- darknessTotal absence of light
- crepuscularRelating to dusk
gloaming · moonlight · shadowy · nighttime · foraging · snuffling · rustling · garden
Hard-winged insect
- earthwormSegmented soil-dwelling invertebrate
- slugNaked terrestrial mollusk
- snailShelled, slow-moving mollusk
- caterpillarMoth or butterfly young
grub · larvae · mealworm · cricket · moth · centipede · millipede · foraging
One who avoids company
- independentFree from external control
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- unsociableDisinclined toward companionship
- reclusiveSeeking isolation from others
solitude · lone · wandering · self-reliant · individual · single · roaming · nocturnal
quills
Hollow defensive animal spikes
sharp · pointed · barbed · needle-like · defensive · erectile · keratin · spiky · stiff · thorny
echidna
Egg-laying spined mammal
- shrewIll-tempered woman, or insectivore
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- moonratMalodorous Southeast Asian insectivore
snout · whiskers · fur · paws · burrow · nest · litter · hoglet · hibernate · warm-blooded
Sonic
Blue gaming icon
British · folklore · lucky · charm · symbol · mascot · hedgerow · countryside
curl
Spiral or loop form
retract · protect · shelter · armor · deterrent · camouflage · survival · evasion · vigilance · alertness
twilight
Light after sunset
crepuscular · gloaming · moonlight · shadowy · nighttime · foraging · snuffling · rustling · garden · undergrowth
beetle
Hard-winged insect
- earthwormSegmented soil-dwelling invertebrate
- slugNaked terrestrial mollusk
- snailShelled, slow-moving mollusk
caterpillar · grub · larvae · mealworm · cricket · moth · centipede · millipede · foraging · snuffling
loner
One who avoids company
- independentFree from external control
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- unsociableDisinclined toward companionship
reclusive · solitude · lone · wandering · self-reliant · individual · single · roaming · nocturnal · secretive
brown
Dark earth tone
ginger · cream · speckled · banded · pale · underbelly · mottled · earthy · sandy · buff
- European natureAlps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, Balkans, Mediterranean
- British Wildlifered deer, badgers, grey squirrel, foxes, otter
- Eurasian wildlifeSiberian tiger, giant panda, red panda, snow leopard, Asian elephant
- furry mammalsbeaver, chinchilla, fox, mink, otter
- hibernatorsgroundhog, woodchuck, chipmunk, ground squirrel, black bear
- insect eatersanteater, giant anteater, aardvark, pangolin, echidna