How many spines does a hedgehog have depending on age?

Hedgehogs have a variable number of spines throughout their lives, and their number varies with age. A tiny hedgehog, a newborn baby will have about 100 spines. The average hedgehog has about 5,000, and the large one has 7,000 spines. The spines are a natural protection of hedgehogs against predators, when the animal is in danger, it curls up into a spiky ball and hopes that the opponent will give up discouraged by the painful prospect.