A cavy-like rodent; some hairs modified as long sharp spines; lives in diverse habitats; 22 species in two families: ground-dwelling family Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) from Africa and S Asia, and tree-climbing family Erithizontidae (New World porcupines), widespread in the New World.
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North American Porcupine |
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Family Erethizontidae |
This article is about the rodent mammal. For other uses of the term "porcupine" see Porcupine (disambiguation).
Porcupines are rodents best known for their coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend them from predators.
Porcupines vary in size considerably: Rothschild's Porcupine of South America weighs less than a kilogram;
ORDER RODENTIA
Suborder Hystricomorpha Infraorder Hystricognathi Family Hystricidae: Old World porcupines African Brush-tailed Porcupine, Atherurus africanus Asiatic Brush-tailed Porcupine, Atherurus macrourus African Porcupine, Hystrix cristata Cape Porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis Himalayan Porcupine, Hystrix hodgsoni Indian Porcupine, Hystrix indicus Malayan Porcupine, Hystrix brachyura Bornean Porcupine, Thecurus crassispinis Philippine Porcupine, Thecurus pumilis Sumatran Porcupine, Thecurus sumatrae Long-tailed Porcupine, Trichys fasciculata Family Thryonomyidae: cane rats Family Petromuridae: Dassie Rat Family Bathyergidae: African mole-rats Family Hydrochaeridae: capybara Family Caviidae: cavies Family Dasyproctidae: agoutis and acouchis Family Erethizontidae: New World porcupines Brazilian Porcupine, Coendou prehensilis Bicolor-spined Porcupine, Coendou bicolor Koopman's Porcupine, Coendou koopmani Rothschild's Porcupine, Coendou rothschildi Mexican Tree Porcupine, Sphiggurus mexicanus South American Tree Porcupine, Sphiggurus spinosus Bahia Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Sphiggurus insidiosus Pallid Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Sphiggurus pallidus (extinct) Brown Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Sphiggurus vestitus Orange-spined Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Sphiggurus villosus North American Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum Stump-tailed Porcupine, Echinoprocta rufescens Bristle-spined Porcupine, Chaetomys subspinosus (sometimes considered an echymid) Family Chinchillidae: chinchillas and allies Family Ctenomyidae: tuco-tucos Family Myocastoridae: Coypu Family Octodontidae: octodonts Family Ctenodactylidae: gundis Look up porcupine inWiktionary, the free dictionary.
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