4. Indian Crested, Porcupine Hystrix (Hystrix) indica Kerr, 1792

(IUCN Red List: LC)

Subspecies: H. i. mesopotamica Müller, 1911 and H. i. indica Kerr, 1792 .

Distribution: Abundant with a wide distribution in almost all habitats across the country (Fig. 7).

Previous records: Jabal Abd Al-Aziz and vicinity of Aleppo (Harrison 1972), Khneiz (Misonne 1957), Jabal Abd Al-Aziz and vicinity of Aleppo (Harrison 1972), around Aleppo and Al-Qamishli, (Kumerloeve 1975), Palmyra (Serra et al. 2009a, b), Abu Qubays and Al-Furunlok (Daoud & Khalil 2009a, b), and south of Al-Badia of Deir ez-Zor and Jabal Al-Bishri (Aidek 2010; Murdoch & Aidek 2012).

Recent records: Jabal Abd Al-Aziz, Jabal Al-Bishri, vicinity of Maadan, as-Sarayim (2006–2011), vicinity of Jarablus, Kafr Janneh, Deir Sawwan (2008–2009) Arak, Salamiyah (2011), Al-Kadmous and Halbon (2020), Wadi Al Qarn, Al-Kneisat, Mashqita, Shareefa, Jaiboul, Ein Al-Neser and Shahba (2021), and Rsass (2022).

Remarks: H. i. mesopotamica Müller, 1911 was described from Jabal Abd Al-Aziz (Mesopotamia) and H. i. indica Kerr, 1792 from the western Euphrates Valley (see Müller 1911); both subspecies seem to be geographically separated by the Euphrates River.