Ever wondered what creatures are related to our adorable, spiky friends, hedgehogs? You might be surprised! Hedgehogs belong to the family Erinaceidae, and this family branches into two main subfamilies: Erinaceinae (the true hedgehogs) and Galericinae (the gymnures or moonrats).
While they don't look much alike, gymnures share key ancestral traits with hedgehogs. They're generally larger, have longer tails, and lack the signature spiky coat. They reside primarily in Southeast Asia, whereas hedgehogs are more widespread across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Zooming out further, the Erinaceidae family belongs to the order Eulipotyphla, which includes shrews, moles, and solenodons. These insectivores share ancient roots, highlighting evolutionary relationships even when physical appearances differ greatly. So, next time you see a hedgehog, remember its extended family - from the spiky to the smooth, they all share a common ancestor!
