Hedgehogs vs Porcupines - Compare and Contrast Paragraph

Hedgehogs and Porcupines

Compare and Contrast

Hedgehogs:

• Not considered a rodent.
• Smaller, growing only 12.5 cm up to 30 cm (depending on species).
• There are only 16 known species of hedgehogs.
• Roll into a ball when are threatened or scared.
• In the wild, they eat insects and in captivity, they are said to eat cat food and fruits.

Porcupines:

• Considered a rodent.
• Larger, growing up to 90 cm!
• There are many species of porcupines, 29 discovered species.
• Found in North and South America.
• They shoot out their quills/spikes at predators, and will grow back new ones.
• They eat tree bark in the winter, and many berries and leaves (and also tree bark) in the summer.
• Poisonous quills, and cause a lot of pain when shot into an animal’s or person’s skin.

Similarities:

• Both can be kept as a pet (only some species), but are illegal in many states of the US.
• Both have quills for defense.
• Both can be found in Asia, Europe, and Africa.
• Both mammals.

If you have trouble telling hedgehogs and porcupines apart, you’re not alone. Hedgehogs and porcupines are always thought of being the same animal, and are often mistaken for each other. First of all, porcupines are rodents, but hedgehogs aren’t. They aren’t in the same animal family, but hedgehogs are surprisingly related to shrews. Another important difference is that hedgehogs grow to be only 12.5 cm to 30 cm. On the other hand, porcupines grow 60 to 90 cm long! Both can be kept as pets, as long as they are a domesticated species, but both are illegal in several US states. Another important similarity is that they are both mammals. Although both animals have quills, porcupines have poisonous ones that cause a lot of pain when shot into a person or animal. However, hedgehogs, do not have poisonous quills. Surprisingly, hedgehogs and porcupines have a totally different diet from each other. Hedgehogs eat insects, and domesticated ones eat things like cat food. Porcupines, even in captivity, feed on tree bark all year long, and eat berries in the spring. Even though both spiked animals are found in continents such as Asia, Europe, and Asia, porcupines are even found in North and South America, where it is too cold for hedgehogs to live. There are 29 discovered species of porcupines, and 16 hedgehog species. While the porcupine shoots its quills at its attacker and then grow back the quills over time, hedgehogs simply curl up to spike the attacker. Hopefully, you can tell the difference between these two spiky animals now!

Frosty, my hedgehog. She's so cute!