What is the difference between a hedgehog and a porcupine?

The hedgehog and the porcupine are two distinct species. The confusion between the two creatures seems to stem from both animals' rather prickly exteriors. However, the animals are not closely related to each other, and differ widely in a number of respects. read more

• Porcupine is a rodent while hedgehog belongs to the Order: Erinaceomorpha. • Porcupine is a spine-covered mammal while hedgehog is a spiny-skinned mammal; in other words, porcupine has more prominent spines than hedgehog does. read more

Porcupine quills can be barbed, and quills are released by contact or sometimes if the porcupine shakes its body. As a result, it is potentially much more painful to interact with a porcupine than a hedgehog, since with a porcupine you are likely to get a spine embedded in your skin, and it is likely to hurt coming out due to the barbs. read more

A porcupine will have a round face, with broad paw-like feet and long, protruding claws it uses to climb trees. Habitat Beyond appearance, another main difference between hedgehogs and porcupines is where, and how, they live. read more

Probably there is not a lot of difference on that front. They're both red meat. If on the other hand you're wondering about the animals in general, they are very different. read more