HYSTRICIDAE, Fischer de Waldheim, 1817

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Hystricidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 304-312 : 304

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6612213
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6612180
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A91B1C-C151-4A60-C82C-FD8C9FE26A7E
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	HYSTRICIDAE
status

Treatment

Family HYSTRICIDAE View in CoL

(OLD WORLD PORCUPINES)

• Large nocturnal, terrestrial, herbivorous rodents, with bodies covered in long, sharp spines for defense.

• • 50-110 cm. View Figure

• Afrotropical, Palearctic, and Indo-Malayan Regions. View Figure

• Mediterranean coastal shrubland, warm and cold savanna grasslands, dry semi-deserts, lowland and montane tropical forest, forested hills and steppes, acacia and miombo woodland, agricultural, and urbanized habitats.

• 3 genera, 11 species, 13 taxa.

• 1 species Vulnerable; none Extinct since 1600.