Animal Profiles
Mammals

Porcupine

Hystricidae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Porcupines are rodents protected by quills. This account describes the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata), an Old World species that forages on the ground.

Hystrix cristata (porcupine)

Representative species: Hystrix cristata.

Quartl · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Crested porcupines occur in parts of Africa and Italy. They use rocky country, woodland and farmland, sheltering in burrows or crevices. Other porcupines differ in range and habits.
Habitat
Grassland, Temperate forest, Mountains
Diet
Herbivore
Food
Roots, tubers, bark and fallen fruit provide most food.

Classification

Common name
Porcupine
Browse group
Mammals
Scientific name or taxon
Hystricidae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Rodentia
Family
Hystricidae
Source classification
Mammalia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Its tail has hollow rattling quills.
  • Family groups can share a burrow.
  • It is mainly active at night.

Habitat and range

Crested porcupines occur in parts of Africa and Italy. They use rocky country, woodland and farmland, sheltering in burrows or crevices. Other porcupines differ in range and habits.

Appearance and adaptations

Coarse dark bristles cover the head and underside. Longer quills can be raised into a crest, and stout banded quills protect the back.

Diet and behaviour

Roots, tubers, bark and fallen fruit provide most food. It spends the day sheltered and searches for food at night. When disturbed, it raises its quills and can rattle those on its tail.

Sources

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