Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend them from predators. Porcupines are the third largest rodent, after the capybara, and beaver, and are not to be confused with hedgehogs which are Erinaceomorphs. Most porcupines are about 25-36 inches (60-90 cm) long, with an 8-10 inch (20-25 cm) long tail. Weighing between 12-35 pounds (5-16 kg), they are rounded, large and slow. Porcupines come in various shades of brown, grey, and the unusual white. The name "porcupine" comes from Middle French porc d'épine "thorny pork", hence the nickname "quill pig" for the animal. Species Atherurus africanus Atherurus macrourus The brush-tailed porcupines are a group of Old World porcupines in the genus Atherurus. ... Species Hystrix africaeaustralis Hystrix brachyura Hystrix crassispinis Hystrix cristata Hystrix indica Hystrix javanica Hystrix pumila Hystrix sumatrae Hystrix is a genus of porcupine that contains what are the best known and most distinctive of the Old World porcupines. ... Binomial name (Shaw, 1801) The Long-tailed Porcupine (Trichys fasciculata) is a species of rodent in the Hystricidae family. ... Suborders Sciuromorpha Castorimorpha Myomorpha Anomaluromorpha Hystricomorpha Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously-growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Capybara range Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris[1], known as carpincho in Spanish and capivara in Portuguese[2]) is the largest rodent still in existence in the world,[3] related to guinea pigs, agouti, coyphillas and chinchillas. ... For other uses, see Beaver (disambiguation). ... Genera Atelerix Erinaceus Hemiechinus Mesechinus Paraechinus A hedgehog is any of the small spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. ... Subfamilies & Genera Erinaceinae Atelerix Erinaceus Hemiechinus Mesechinus Paraechinus Galericinae Echinosorex Hylomys Neohylomys Neotetracus Podogymnura Erinaceidae is the only family in the order of the Erinaceomorpha. ... Middle French (French: ) is a historical division of the French language which covers the period from (roughly) 1340 to 1611 [1]. It is a period of transition during which: the French language becomes clearly distinguished from the other competing Oïl languages which are sometimes subsumed within the concept of...

The animal's quills or spines take on various forms, depending on the species, but all are modified hairs coated with thick plates of keratin, and they are embedded in the skin musculature. Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) have quills embedded in clusters, whereas in New World porcupines (Erethizontidae) single quills are interspersed with bristles, underfur, and hair. Not to be confused with kerogen or carotene. ... For other uses, see Skin (disambiguation). ...

Contrary to popular belief, porcupines are not capable of throwing their quills, but they detach very easily and will remain embedded in an attacker. Porcupine quills are as sharp as needles. Unlike needles, however, the quills of New World porcupines have microscopic, backwards-facing barbs on the tip that catch on the skin making them difficult and painful to extract. Quills are about 75 mm long and 2 mm wide. If a quill becomes lodged in the tissues of a would-be attacker, the barbs act to pull the quill further into the tissues with the normal muscle movements of the attacker, moving up to several millimeters in a day. Predators have been known to die as a result of quill penetration and infection. Quills are still capable of penetrating animals and humans even after death. [1]. Look up needle in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

In parts of Africa and Arabia, porcupines are eaten as a form of bush meat. Porcupine meat is also appreciated in some regions of Italy and Vietnam. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... The Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula is a mainly desert peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia and an important part of the greater Middle East. ... Bushmeat (from the French viande de brousse) hunting is common in sub-Saharan Africas dense forests. ...

Old World porcupine

Porcupines occupy a wide range of habitats in tropical and temperate parts of Asia, Italy, Africa and North and South America. Porcupines live in forests, deserts and grasslands. Some live in trees, others stay on the ground. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 2257 KB) Photograph of a brush-tailed porcupine in Berlin Zoologischer Garten. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 2257 KB) Photograph of a brush-tailed porcupine in Berlin Zoologischer Garten. ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...

Porcupines in search of salt sometimes encroach on human habitats, eating plywood cured with sodium nitrate,^[1] certain paints, and tool handles, footwear, clothes and other items that have been coated in salty sweat. Porcupines are attracted to roads in areas where rock salt is used to melt ice and snow, and are known to gnaw on vehicle tires or wiring coated in road salt. Salt licks placed nearby can prevent porcupine damage. R-phrases 36 S-phrases none Flash point Non-flammable Related Compounds Other anions NaF, NaBr, NaI Other cations LiCl, KCl, RbCl, CsCl, MgCl2, CaCl2 Related salts Sodium acetate Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... Towers of Hanoi constructed from plywood. ... Made of Porn and sex things Inhalation respiratory irritation Skin May cause irritation. ... Perspiration (also called sweating or sometimes transpiration) is the production and evaporation of a fluid, consisting primarily of water as well as a smaller amount of sodium chloride (the main constituent of table salt), that is excreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals. ... A salt lick is a salt deposit that animals regularly lick. ...

Natural sources of salt consumed by porcupines include varieties of salt-rich plants (such as yellow water lily and aquatic liverwort), fresh animal bones, outer tree bark, mud in salt-rich soils, and objects impregnated with urine.^[2]

Species

A porcupine is any of 27 species of rodent belonging to the families Erethizontidae or Hystricidae. All defend themselves with sharp spines—actually modified hairs—rather like those of the hedgehogs (which are part of the order Erinaceomorpha and more closely related to shrews and moles than they are to the rodents) and the echidnas, which as monotremes are very distantly related indeed. For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... Suborders Sciuromorpha Castorimorpha Myomorpha Anomaluromorpha Hystricomorpha Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously-growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing. ... Genera  Coendou  Sphiggurus  Erethizon  Echinoprocta The New World porcupines are large terrestrial rodents, distinguished by their spiny covering from which they take their name. ... Genera  Atherurus  Hystrix  Thecurus  Trichys The Old World porcupines are large representatives of the terrestrial rodent mammals, distinguished by their spiny covering from which they take their name. ... Genera Atelerix Erinaceus Hemiechinus Mesechinus Paraechinus A hedgehog is any of the small spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. ... Subfamilies & Genera Erinaceinae Atelerix Erinaceus Hemiechinus Mesechinus Paraechinus Galericinae Echinosorex Hylomys Neohylomys Neotetracus Podogymnura Erinaceidae is the only family in the order of the Erinaceomorpha. ... It has been suggested that Echolocating shrew be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see Mole. ... For other senses of this word, see echidna (disambiguation). ... Families †Kollikodontidae Ornithorhynchidae Tachyglossidae †Steropodontidae Monotremes (monos, single + trema, hole; refers to the cloaca) are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young like marsupials (Metatheria) and placental mammals (Eutheria). ...

Porcupines vary in size considerably: Rothschild's Porcupine of South America weighs less than a kilogram; the African Porcupine can grow to well over 20 kg. Binomial name Thomas, 1902 The Rothschilds Porcupine (Coendou rothschildi) is a species of rodent in the Erethizontidae family. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Binomial name Hystrix cristata Linnaeus, 1758 The Crested Porcupine or European Porcupine or African Porcupine or North African crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is a member of the Old World porcupines. ...

The two families of porcupines are quite different and although both belong to the Hystricognathi branch of the vast order Rodentia, they are not closely related. Hystricognathi is a subordo of the Rodentia. ... Suborders Sciuromorpha Castorimorpha Myomorpha Anomaluromorpha Hystricomorpha Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously-growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing. ...

The eleven Old World porcupines are almost exclusively terrestrial, tend to be fairly large, and have quills that are grouped in clusters. They separated from the other hystricognaths about 30 million years ago, much earlier than the New World porcupines. Genera Atherurus Hystrix Thecurus Trichys The Old World porcupines are large representatives of the terrestrial rodent mammals, distinguished by their spiny covering from which they take their name. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

The twelve New World porcupines are mostly smaller (although the North American Porcupine reaches about 85 cm in length and 18 kilograms), have their quills attached singly rather than grouped in clusters, and are excellent climbers, spending much of their time in trees. The New World porcupines evolved their spines independently (through convergent evolution) and are more closely related to several other families of rodent than they are to the Old World porcupines. Genera  Erethizon  Coendou  Sphiggurus  Echinoprocta  Chaetomys The New World porcupines are large terrestrial rodents, distinguished by their spiny covering from which they take their name. ... Binomial name Erethizon dorsatum Linnaeus, 1758 The North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), also known as Canadian Porcupine or Common Porcupine, is a large rodent in the New World porcupine family. ... In evolutionary biology, convergent evolution is the process whereby organisms not closely related, independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. ...

ORDER RODENTIA Suborders Sciuromorpha Castorimorpha Myomorpha Anomaluromorpha Hystricomorpha Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously-growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing. ...

• 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
      • Sunda Porcupine, Hystrix javanica
      • Sumatran Porcupine, Hystrix sumatrae
      • Bornean Porcupine, Thecurus crassispinis
      • Philippine Porcupine, Thecurus pumilis
      • 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

Families Ctenodactylidae †Tammquammyidae †Diatomyidae †Yuomyidae †Chapattimyidae †Tsaganomyidae Laonastidae †Baluchimyinae Hystricidae †Myophiomyidae †Diamantomyidae †Phiomyidae †Kenyamyidae Petromuridae Thryonomyidae Bathyergidae †Bathyergoididae Erethizontidae Dasyproctidae Agoutidae †Eocardiidae Dinomyidae Caviidae Hydrochaeridae Octodontidae Ctenomyidae Echimyidae Myocastoridae Capromyidae †Heptaxodontidae Chinchillidae †Neoepiblemidae Abrocomidae Skull of a capybara showing the enlarged infraorbital canal present in most members of the Hystricomorpha. ... Hystricognathi is a subordo of the Rodentia. ... Genera  Atherurus  Hystrix  Thecurus  Trichys The Old World porcupines are large representatives of the terrestrial rodent mammals, distinguished by their spiny covering from which they take their name. ... The African Brush-Tailed Porcupine (Atherurus africanus) is a species of rat-like Old World porcupine called brush-tailed porcupines. The brush-tailed porcupines live in forests, usually at high elevations. ... African Bush Tailed porcupine is cool. ... Binomial name Hystrix cristata Linnaeus, 1758 The Crested Porcupine or European Porcupine or African Porcupine or North African crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is a member of the Old World porcupines. ... The Cape Porcupine is a species of Old World porcupine. ... Binomial name Hystrix hodgsoni , The Himalayan or Chinese Porcupine (Hystrix hodgsoni) is a species of porcupine found in eastern Asia. ... Binomial name Hystrix indica , The Indian Porcupine (Hystrix indica) is a member of the Old World porcupines. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 The Malayan Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) is a species of rodent in the Hystricidae family. ... Binomial name (F. Cuvier, 1823) The Sunda Porcupine (Hystrix javanica) is a species of rodent in the Hystricidae family. ... Binomial name (Lyon, 1907) The Sumatran Porcupine (Hystrix sumatrae) is a species of rodent in the Hystricidae family. ... Binomial name (Shaw, 1801) The Long-tailed Porcupine (Trichys fasciculata) is a species of rodent in the Hystricidae family. ... Species Thryonomys gregorianus (Lesser Cane Rat) Thryonomys swinderianus (Greater Cane Rat) The genus Thryonomys, also know as cane rats, is a genus of rodent found in Africa south of the Sahara. ... Binomial name Petromus typicus , The Dassie Rat, Petromus typicus, is an African rodent found among rocky outcroppings. ... Genera Georychus Cryptomys Heliophobius Bathyergus Heterocephalus The blesmols, also known as mole rats, or African mole-rats, are burrowing rodents of the family Bathyergidae. ... Binomial name Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Linnaeus, 1766) The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest of living rodents (the long extinct rodent Phoberomys pattersoni was significantly bigger. ... Subfamilies  Caviinae  Dolichotinae The Cavy (family Caviidae) is divided in two subfamilies: Subfamily Caviinae: cavies and guinea pigs Genus Cavia, this genus is especially called cavy. ... Genera Dasyprocta Myoprocta Agouti The Dasyproctidae are a family of South American rodents, comprising three genera. ... Genera  Coendou  Sphiggurus  Erethizon  Echinoprocta The New World porcupines are large terrestrial rodents, distinguished by their spiny covering from which they take their name. ... Binomial name Coendou prehensilis (, ) The Brazilian Porcupine (Coendou prehensilis) is a porcupine found in tropical forests in Mexico and throughout much of South America. ... Binomial name (Tschudi, 1844) The Bicolor-spined Porcupine (Coendou bicolor) is a species of rodent in the Erethizontidae family. ... [[{{{diversity_link}}}|Diversity]] {{{diversity}}} Binomial name Coendou nycthemera Olfers, 1818 Trinomial name {{{trinomial}}} Type Species {{{type_species}}} {{{subdivision_ranks}}} [[Image:{{{range_map}}}|{{{range_map_width}}}|]] Synonyms {{{synonyms}}} The Koopmans Porcupine, Coendou nycthemera, is a porcupine species from the Erethizontidae family endemic to northern Brazil. ... Binomial name Thomas, 1902 The Rothschilds Porcupine (Coendou rothschildi) is a species of rodent in the Erethizontidae family. ... Binomial name (Kerr, 1792) The Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine or Mexican Tree Porcupine (Sphiggurus mexicanus) is a species of rodent in the Erethizontidae family. ... Binomial name Sphiggurus spinosus (Cuvier, 1822) The South American Tree Porcupine, Sphiggurus spinosus, is a South American porcupine species from the Erethizontidae family. ... [[{{{diversity_link}}}|Diversity]] {{{diversity}}} Binomial name Sphiggurus insidiosus (Olfers, 1818) Trinomial name {{{trinomial}}} Type Species {{{type_species}}} {{{subdivision_ranks}}} [[Image:{{{range_map}}}|{{{range_map_width}}}|]] Synonyms {{{synonyms}}} The Bahia Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Sphiggurus insidiosus, is a porcupine species from the Erethizontidae family endemic to southeastern Brazil. ... Binomial name (Waterhouse, 1848) The Pallid Hairy Dwarf Porcupine (Sphiggurus pallidus) was a species of rodent in the Erethizontidae family. ... Binomial name (Thomas, 1899) The Brown Hairy Dwarf Porcupine (Sphiggurus vestitus) is a species of rodent in the Erethizontidae family. ... Binomial name Sphiggurus villosus (Cuvier, 1822) The Orange-spined Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Sphiggurus villosus, is a porcupine species from the Erethizontidae family endemic to southern Brazil. ... Binomial name Erethizon dorsatum Linnaeus, 1758 The North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), also known as Canadian Porcupine or Common Porcupine, is a large rodent in the New World porcupine family. ... Binomial name (Gray, 1865) The Stump-tailed Porcupine (Echinoprocta rufescens) is a species of rodent in the Erethizontidae family. ... Binomial name Chaetomys subspinosus (Olfers, 1818) The Bristle-spined Porcupine, Chaetomys subspinosus, is an arboreal rodent from Brazil. ... Genera †Cercomys †Maruchito †Paulacoutomys †Willidewu †Adelphomys †Deseadomys †Paradelphomys †Stichomys †Xylechimys Dactylomys Kannabateomys Olallamys †Boromys †Brotomys †Heteropsomys †Puertoricomys †Acarechimys †Chasichimys †Eumysops Lonchothrix Mesomys †Palaeoechimys †Pampamys †Pattersomys †Protacaremys †Protadelphomys †Sallamys Proechimys Thrichomys Trinomys Carterodon Clyomys Euryzygomatomys Callistomys Diplomys Echimys Isothrix Makalata Pattonomys Phyllomys Santamartamys The spiny rats are a group of hystricognath... Genera  Chinchilla  Lagidium  Lagostomus Chinchillas and their relatives viscachas are small, nocturnal mammals native to the Andes mountains in South America and belonging to the family Chinchillidae. ... The tuco-tucos are members of a group of rodents that belong to the family Ctenomyidae. ... The tuco-tucos are members of a group of rodents that belong to the family Ctenomyidae. ... Binomial name Myocastor coypus (Molina, 1782) The Coypu (Myocastor coypus) or Nutria is a large, crepuscular, semiaquatic rodent native to South America, but now also present in Europe, Asia, and North America. ... Genera  Octodon  Octodontomys  Octomys  Spalacopus  Aconaemys  Pipanacoctomys  Salinoctomys  Tympanoctomys The Octodontidae are a family of South American rodents. ... Genera Ctenodactylus Felovia Massoutiera Pectinator Gundis (family Ctenodactylidae) are a group of small, stocky rodents found in Africa. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 151 languages. ...

References

Scientific American is a popular-science magazine, published (first weekly and later monthly) since August 28, 1845, making it the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyomings high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet (2194 m), between the the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Porcupines: Wildlife summary from the African Wildlife Foundation
• "Resource Cards: What About Porcupines?" Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
• Porcupine control in the western states hosted by the UNT Government Documents Department
• Why the porcupine is the logo of the Free State Project