Close Relatives:
* Shrews: Hedgehogs and shrews share a common ancestor in the family Erinaceidae. They're both insectivores and have similar body shapes, though shrews lack spines.
* Moles: While not as closely related as shrews, moles are also within the same order (Eulipotyphla) as hedgehogs and shrews.
* Solenodons: These are rare, venomous mammals found only in the Caribbean. They are part of the same family as hedgehogs (Erinaceidae) but are more distantly related.
Distant Relatives:
* All other mammals: Hedgehogs are part of the class Mammalia, which includes a vast array of animals. This means they are related, albeit distantly, to primates, rodents, bats, whales, and all other mammals.
Evolutionary Tree:
It's helpful to visualize this relationship in an evolutionary tree:
* Eulipotyphla Order:
* Erinaceidae Family:
* Hedgehogs
* Shrews
* Solenodons
* Talpidae Family: Moles
* Soricidae Family: Shrews
* Other Mammalian Orders: Primates, Rodentia, Carnivora, etc.
Key Point: While shrews are the closest living relatives to hedgehogs, all mammals share a common ancestor and are ultimately related to hedgehogs.