28 Animals Like Hedgehogs (A to Z List with Pictures)

Examples of animals like hedgehogs include Andean Porcupine, Brazilian Porcupine, Brown Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Cowan’s Shrew Tenrec, and Dinagat Gymnure.

The Hedgehog is a small, spiny mammal that is indigenous to Europe, Africa, and Asia. These creatures have a number of adaptations that help protect them from predators, including their spines and nocturnal lifestyle.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of these animals and discuss how they differ from hedgehogs. Stay tuned for more information on these fascinating creatures.

Examples of Animals Like Hedgehogs

1. Andean Porcupine

The Andean porcupine is a species of rodent that is found in the mountains of South America. These animals are much larger than hedgehogs, and they have quills that are up to 10 inches long. Andean porcupines are also nocturnal, and they use their quills to defend themselves from predators.

2. Brazilian Porcupine

The Brazilian Porcupine is a member of the rodent family and is found in South America. These animals are nocturnal and have sharp quills that they use for self-defense. The quills of the Brazilian Porcupine are hollow, and when the animal feels threatened, it will try to make itself appear larger by raising its quills. This will usually deter predators.

If a predator does attack, the porcupine will use its quills as weapons. The quills are very sharp and can cause serious injury to the predator. In some cases, the quills may even puncture the predator’s skin and enter its bloodstream, causing death.

Related Article: 35 Animals that Look Like Porcupines

3. Brown Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

The brown hairy dwarf porcupine is a small, spiny mammal that is found in Africa and Asia. These creatures are nocturnal and have a number of adaptations that help them avoid predators, including their spines and their brown fur.

Porcupines are usually solitary animals, but they will sometimes live in small groups. These animals are herbivores and their diet consists mainly of plants. Porcupines use their sharp incisors to gnaw on bark and leaves.

4. Cowan’s Shrew Tenrec

The Cowan’s shrew tenrec is a small mammal that is found in Africa. This creature has a number of adaptations that help it to survive in its environment, including its sharp teeth and claws. The Cowan’s shrew tenrec is also able to secrete a poisonous substance from its skin, which helps to deter predators.

5. Dinagat Gymnure

The Dinagat Gymnure is a small, spiny mammal that is found in the Philippines. These creatures are closely related to hedgehogs and have many of the same adaptations, including their spines and nocturnal lifestyle.

One major difference between the two animals is that Dinagat Gymnures are not found in the wild outside of the Philippines. Another difference is that these animals have shorter snouts and longer hind legs than hedgehogs.

6. Dobson’s Shrew Tenrec

Dobson’s shrew tenrec is a small mammal that is found in Madagascar. This animal is similar to a hedgehog in that it has spines on its back. However, unlike hedgehogs, Dobson’s shrew tenrecs are nocturnal and active during the day. These animals also have a longer snout and ears than hedgehogs.

7. Dwarf Gymnure

The Dwarf Gymnure is a small, spiny mammal that is found in Africa and Asia. These creatures are nocturnal and have a number of adaptations that help them avoid predators.

Like hedgehogs, Dwarf Gymnures have spines that cover their backs. However, these spines are not as sharp as those of hedgehogs. Additionally, Dwarf Gymnures do not roll into a ball when threatened; instead, they curl up into a tight ball with their spines sticking out.

8. Greater Hedgehog Tenrec

These unusual animals are found on the island of Madagascar. They look like a cross between a hedgehog and an insect, and they are the largest species of hedgehog in the world. These tenrecs have quills that are up to 3 inches long!

While they are not true hedgehogs, these creatures are interesting for their similarities to hedgehogs. Like hedgehogs, they are nocturnal and have a diet that consists mainly of insects. They also use their quills for defense against predators.

9. Hainan Gymnure

The Hainan gymnure (Neohylomys hainanensis) is a hedgehog-like mammal that is found on the island of Hainan, China. This creature has a number of unique features that set it apart from other hedgehogs.

10. Highland Streaked Tenrec

The Highland streaked tenrec is a small mammal that is found in the highlands of Madagascar. These creatures are nocturnal and have a number of adaptations that help them to avoid predators. One of these adaptations is their spines, which can deter predators from attacking. Another adaptation is their nocturnal lifestyle, which allows them to avoid detection by predators.

11. Indian Crested Porcupine

These porcupines are found in the forests of southern India. They have long, sharp spines that cover their backs and heads. These spines are used for protection from predators.

12. Large-Eared Tenrec

The large-eared tenrec is a small mammal that is found in Madagascar. These animals are nocturnal and have a number of adaptations that help them to avoid predators. One of these is their spines, which are used to deter predators.

Another adaptation is their large ears, which help them to hear approaching predators.

13. Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec

The Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec is a small mammal that is found in Africa. These creatures are nocturnal and have a spiny coat that helps protect them from predators. They also have long claws that they use for digging.

14. Long-Eared Gymnure

The long-eared gymnure, also known as the greater moonrat, is a species of hedgehog that is found in Southeast Asia. This animal gets its name from the long, furry ears that extend from its head. Gymnures are nocturnal animals that live in forests and jungles. They feed on insects, small reptiles, and fruits.

Unlike hedgehogs, gymnures do not have spines on their back. Instead, they have a coat of soft, thick fur. This fur helps to insulate the animals and keep them warm at night.

15. Lowland Streaked Tenrec

The lowland streaked tenrec is a small mammal that is found in the forests of Madagascar. These animals are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night and sleep during the day. They are also solitary creatures, meaning they do not live in groups.

Like hedgehogs, the lowland streaked tenrec has spines that protect it from predators. However, the tenrec’s spines are not as sharp as those of the hedgehog. Additionally, the lowland streaked tenrec is a much smaller animal than the hedgehog.

16. Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Found in Mexico and parts of Central America, this hedgehog relative is the largest porcupine in North America. It has a body length of up to 30 inches (76 cm) and can weigh up to 16 pounds (7 kg). Its quills are black with white tips, and its underfur is long and dense.

17. Mindanao Gymnure

The Mindanao Gymnure (Podogymnura truei) is a species of hedgehog found only on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. These animals are brown or reddish-brown in color, and they have prominent spines on their backs. Their diet consists primarily of insects, but they will also eat small vertebrates.

18. Mole-Like Rice Tenrec

The first thing you’ll notice about this small mammal is its mole-like appearance. It has a short, stout body and short legs that are adapted for digging. This creature is found in Madagascar and feeds on insects, grubs, and other small invertebrates.

While they may look similar, rice tenrecs differ from hedgehogs in a few key ways. For one, they lack the spines that hedgehogs are known for. Additionally, they are active during the day, while hedgehogs are nocturnal.

19. Moles

Moles are small, burrowing mammals that are found in North America, Europe, and Asia. These animals have a number of adaptations that help them dig tunnels underground, including their strong front limbs and sharp claws. Moles also have poor eyesight and rely heavily on their sense of touch to navigate their dark tunnels.

20. Moonrat

The Moonrat is a scaly, spiny mammal found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. These nocturnal creatures are related to hedgehogs, and like their cousins, they have a number of adaptations that help them evade predators. One of the most notable features of the Moonrat is its long, prehensile tail, which it uses to assist in climbing and jumping.

While Moonrats share many similarities with hedgehogs, there are a few key differences between the two species. For one, Moonrats are much larger than hedgehogs, weighing in at up to 4 kg (9 lb).

21. Nimba Otter Shrew

The Nimba otter shrew is a small, spiny mammal that is indigenous to Africa. These creatures have a number of adaptations that help protect them from predators, including their spines and nocturnal lifestyle.

Related Article: Do Otters Build Dams?

22. Rothschild’s Porcupine

Rothschild’s porcupine is a species of rodent that is found in Africa. These animals are nocturnal and have long, sharp spines that cover their bodies. These spines help protect them from predators. Rothschild’s porcupines are also good climbers and often build nests in trees.

23. Ruwenzori Otter Shrew

The Ruwenzori otter shrew is a small, spiny mammal that is found in the mountains of central Africa. These animals are closely related to hedgehogs and have many of the same adaptations, including their spines and nocturnal lifestyle.

One of the biggest differences between these two animals is their size; otter shrews are much smaller than hedgehogs. Another difference is that otter shrews have webbed feet, which helps them swim.

24. Short-Tailed Gymnure

The short-tailed gymnure is a close relative of the hedgehog. These animals are found in Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe. They have short, spiky fur and short tail.

25. Shrew Gymnure

The gymnure, also known as the moonrat, is a member of the hedgehog family found in Southeast Asia. These animals are much smaller than hedgehogs, with a body length of only 8-10 cm. They also have shorter spines, which are not as sharp as those of hedgehogs.

26. Solenodon

The Solenodon is a small, spiny mammal that is indigenous to Cuba and Hispaniola. These creatures have a number of adaptations that help protect them from predators, including their spines and nocturnal lifestyle.

27. Tailless Tenrec

These small mammals are found in Madagascar and parts of Africa. They look similar to hedgehogs but don’t have spines on their backs. Instead, they have quills that they can use for defense.

28. Web-Footed Tenrec

The web-footed tenrec is a small mammal that is found in Madagascar. These creatures are related to hedgehogs, and they share many of the same adaptations. One key difference between the two animals is that web-footed tenrecs have webbing between their toes, which helps them swim.

Like hedgehogs, web-footed tenrecs are nocturnal animals that use their spines for protection. These creatures also have poor eyesight, and they rely on their sense of smell to find food. Web-footed tenrecs are omnivorous, and they eat a variety of small insects and other invertebrates.

Conclusion

Hedgehogs, shrew tenrecs, echidnas, gymnures, and porcupines all have adaptations that help them to survive in their environment. These animals are all spiny and nocturnal, which helps them to avoid predators.

Garreth

Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.