Could a hedgehog mate with an anteater?

No, a hedgehog and an anteater cannot mate. They are from completely different orders of mammals and are too genetically distinct to produce offspring.

Here's why:

* Different Orders: Hedgehogs belong to the order Erinaceomorpha, while anteaters belong to the order Pilosa. This difference in order signifies a significant evolutionary distance between them.

* Genetic Incompatibility: Their chromosomes, which carry their genetic information, are vastly different. These differences prevent their reproductive cells from combining successfully.

* Reproductive Systems: Even if their reproductive cells could combine, their physical reproductive systems are not compatible.

In short, hedgehogs and anteaters are simply too different biologically to be able to mate.