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Numbers in the News: Real-Life Sonic
This December, the world’s fastest hedgehog returned to theaters in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Check out some facts about real-life hedgehogs.
BFA/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
1991
The year the first Sonic the Hedgehog video game was released. It was created in Japan—which has no wild hedgehogs.
WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES
17
The estimated number of hedgehog species. Most are native to Europe.
9 INCHES
The average height of a hedgehog standing on its hind legs. That’s less than one-quarter the size of Sonic.
KLEIN & HUBERT/NATUREPL.COM
5,000
The number of quills covering a typical hedgehog. When threatened, the animals curl up into a spiky ball.
5.9 MILES PER HOUR
The top running speed of a real hedgehog—not exactly the fastest animal alive!
THINK ABOUT IT: Sonic can run at the speed of sound, about 761 miles per hour. About how many times faster is Sonic than a real hedgehog?
SOURCES: SEGA CORPORATION, WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, THE GUARDIAN