Are Hedgehogs Marsupials?

No, hedgehogs are not marsupials. They belong to the order Erinaceomorpha and are part of the family Erinaceidae. This family includes various species of hedgehogs that are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Marsupials, on the other hand, are a distinct group of mammals characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young, which typically continue to develop in a pouch on the mother’s body. This group includes animals such as kangaroos, koalas, and opossums.

Hedgehogs are placental mammals, meaning that their young develop inside their mother’s body and are nurtured via a placenta. In contrast, marsupials have a different reproductive strategy, with their young being born at an earlier developmental stage and transferring to a pouch to complete their growth. Therefore, hedgehogs and marsupials are quite different in their biology and classification.

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