Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Yahooanswers.com: Are Hedgehogs Just Baby Porcupines?

"Are hedgehogs just baby porcupines? And if yes, when they shoot their quills when frightened, are the quills venomous? Because I wouldn't feel safe having a weapon pet just walking around the trailer."

- Hi, My Name Is: ANIMAL
"No hedgehogs are not baby porcupines. Porcupines are from the Erethizontidae family (I think or this may just be the new world porcupines) and hedhehogs are from the Erinaceidae family.

Porcupines are rodents, hedgehogs are not.

Hedgehogs lack the ability to shoot their quills at all. The quills are not venomous.

I have a pet hedgehog and unless he is scared or angry his quills are quite soft. Yes you can and will get stuck with them a gew times but it isn't really all that painful.

I suggest a TON of research before getting one."

- Janella
"no they are not. they are more closely related to the mole than the porcupine. porcupine quills aren't venomous. but they do carry bacteria and are barbed."

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