What family are they classified as?

[Pippin'sMom]

Which family is a hedgie from exactly? I know they definately aren't rodents, but other than that I have no clue. :confused:
~Maggie

[reddevil]

Hi,

They are classified as insectivors.....insect eaters....in the wild they eat insects, eggs, small lizards.

Red

[Pippin'sMom]

They are classified as insectivors
Yes, but you could also say that about some birds or reptiles even. Is there a less broad term for them or is that all?

[enitsirk]

I don't know if it'll help any...but M-W.com's definition of a hedgehog:

Main Entry: hedge·hog
Pronunciation: 'hej-"hog, -"häg
Function: noun
1 a : any of a subfamily (Erinaceinae) of Old World nocturnal insectivores that have both hair and spines which they present outwardly by rolling themselves up when threatened b : any of several spiny mammals (as a porcupine)
2 a : a military defensive obstacle (as of barbed wire) b : a well-fortified military stronghold

[Sary]

I am amused by the second entry in that definition

[enitsirk]

I am amused by the second entry in that definition
*laughs* didn't even notice that.. :laugh:

[Silly_Quilly]

I always wondered what to classify them as also. A lot of people ask me if they are related to porcipines and I never know exactly how to answer that.

[Firequencher]

actually i read somewhere that they're not related to porcupines... i was surprised.

[bear]

they are related to moles though.

[r0xy]

If you're interested in the whole scientific classification deal, it goes something like this:
Kindgom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Insectivora
Family: Erinaceidae (close to the Latin word for hedgehog)
and then you have Genus and Species to make up the proper binomial nomenclature deal for the species' name such as Atelerix albiventris, Erinaceus europeaus , etc.
and yeah... no relation to porcupines, but relation to moles and shrews.
Sorry this post is so dry... Take care!