What is the Difference Between Echidna and Hedgehog

Echidnas and hedgehogs are small, spiny animals. Both use their spines for protection and feed on insects like ants and termites. Despite their similarities, they belong to different animal families and have distinct features.

What is the difference between echidna and hedgehog? Echidna is an egg-laying mammal found mainly in Australia and New Guinea while hedgehog is a placental mammal, which gives birth to live young, found in many parts of the world.

Key Areas Covered

1. Echidna 
     – Features, Facts, & Behavior
2. Hedgehog
     – Features, Facts, & Behavior
3. Similarities Between Echidna and Hedgehog
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Echidna and Hedgehog
     – Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Echidna and Hedgehog
     – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terms

Echidna, Hedgehog

Echidna – Features, Facts, & Behavior

The echidna, sometimes called a spiny anteater, is an egg-laying mammal found in Australia and New Guinea. But, they are not closely related to true anteaters or hedgehogs. Along with the platypus, it is one of the only mammals in the world that lays eggs. There are four species of echidna. 

Echidnas evolved from a platypus-like ancestor that lived in water. However, unlike their ancestors, echidnas are land animals. Because of these origins, they are also good swimmers.

Echidnas have short, strong limbs with powerful claws built for digging. Their back claws are even curved backward to help with burrowing. They have long, thin snouts that act as both their mouth and nose, and these snouts can sense electrical signals from underground prey like ants, termites, and worms. Since they have tiny, toothless mouths, they don’t chew their food. Instead, they rip open logs or anthills and use their long, sticky tongue to slurp up insects.

Echidnas don’t handle extreme temperatures well. Therefore, they seek shelter in caves, rock crevices, or under thick vegetation. They typically live in forests and woodlands, where they can hide from predators and the elements. In the wild, they usually live around 14 to 16 years. Males are larger than females, weighing about 6 kg (13 lbs), while females weigh around 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs). They are usually solitary creatures.

Hedgehog – Features, Facts, & Behavior

The hedgehog is a small, spiny mammal that lives in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It isn’t native to the Americas or Australia. There are 17 different species of hedgehogs, and all have a characteristic spiky coat. These spines are actually stiff, hollow hairs made of keratin—the same material as human nails. Unlike porcupine quills, hedgehog spines don’t detach easily. They are also not poisonous. Young hedgehogs go through a process called “quilling.” This is when their baby spines fall out and are replaced with adult ones.

When threatened, a hedgehog curls into a tight ball, tucking its soft belly, feet, and face safely inside its protective spines. They are mostly active at night and spend their days sleeping under bushes, rocks, or in underground dens. Some hedgehogs hibernate during colder months, depending on food availability and temperature.
Hedgehogs are omnivores. Their diet includes insects, snails, frogs, bird eggs, berries, mushrooms, and even the occasional snake. They can be quite vocal and make grunts, snuffles, or squeals.

Hedgehogs have a gestation period of 35 to 58 days. Their litters typically contain three to six babies. In the wild, they usually live between two and seven years, though some have been recorded living up to 16 years. In captivity, they can live up to ten years.

Similarities Between Echidna and Hedgehog

• Both have spines on their backs for defense.
• They are relatively small animals.
• Both curl into a ball when threatened for protection.
• They tend to be solitary animals.

Difference Between Echidna and Hedgehog

Definition

• Echidna is a monotreme (egg-laying mammal) from the family Tachyglossidae, while hedgehog is a placental mammal from the family Erinaceidae.

Reproduction

• Echidna lays eggs while hedgehog gives birth to live young.

Geographic Distribution

• Echidnas are found in Australia and New Guinea. However, hedgehogs are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are not native to the Americas or Australia.

Muzzle/Snout

• Echidnas have long, thin snouts that function as both mouth and nose, whereas hedgehogs have short, round snouts.

Spines/Quills

• Echidnas have longer, thinner, sharper quills that are more widely spaced, whereas hedgehogs have shorter, denser, and more uniform spines.

Feet and Claws

• Echidnas have large feet with long, strong claws (especially front claws) for digging, but hedgehogs have much smaller feet with shorter claws.

Face and Eyes

• Echidnas have a long, thin forehead and small, round eyes positioned on the sides of their heads. Hedgehogs, on the other hand, have short, round faces with large, round eyes.

Ears

• The ears of echidna are hidden beneath fur and spines and appear as small slits, whereas hedgehogs have visible, round ears that protrude from the sides of its head.

Teeth

• Echidnas are toothless and catch food using the tongue, but hedgehogs have small, sharp teeth for chewing.

Activity

• Echidnas are active in the day or at cooler times, whereas hedgehogs are nocturnal (active at night).

Lifespan

• Echidnas have a longer life span (14–16 years in the wild) than hedgehogs (2–7 years in the wild).

FAQ: Echidna and Hedgehog

1. What’s the difference between echidna and porcupine?

Echidnas are egg-laying mammals found in Australia & New Guinea with long snouts and no teeth. They cannot eject their spines. Porcupines are rodents found in many parts of the world. They have big teeth and barbed quills/spines that can be ejected for defense.

2. Can you touch an echidna?          

You can touch an echidna, but only if necessary and with care. Their spines are sharp, so it’s best to use gloves or a towel to gently lift them from underneath, supporting their belly.

3. What’s the difference between a hedgehog and a porcupine?

Hedgehogs are smaller and have shorter, dense spines that don’t detach. Porcupines are larger, with longer, barbed quills that can detach to defend themselves. Hedgehogs are also insect eaters, while porcupines mostly eat plants.

4. Does echidna give birth?

No, echidnas do not give birth. They are egg-laying mammals (monotremes), so they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. The eggs hatch and the baby echidna develops in a pouch-like area.

5. Does echidna lay many eggs?

No, echidnas usually lay only one egg at a time. After about ten days, the egg hatches, and a tiny, underdeveloped baby (called a puggle) is born.

Reference:

1. “Echidna.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2.”Hedgehog.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation. 

Image Courtesy:

1. “Short-beaked echidna in ANBG” By Gunjan Pandey – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2.”Brown Hedgehog” (CC0) via Pexels