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Hystricidae - Old World Porcupines

There are 11 species in this family. Old World porcupines are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

They have stocky bodies, rounded heads, and stiff quills.

Old World porcupine quills don’t have the barbs found on the quills of New World porcupines, but they can still get stuck in the flesh of an attacking animal!

Unlike New World porcupines, Old World porcupines don’t climb trees. They are omnivores and eat plants and carrion.

  • The Asiatic Brush-tailed porcupine is found in Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Asiatic Brush-tailed Porcupine
    (Atherurus macrourus)
    The Asiatic Brush-tailed porcupine is found in Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Cape porcupine is found in Botswana, Burundi, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Cape Porcupine
    (Hystrix africaeaustralis)
    The Cape porcupine is found in Botswana, Burundi, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Malayan porcupine is found in a Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Malayan Porcupine
    (Hystrix brachyura)
    The Malayan porcupine is found in a Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The crested porcupine is found in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Crested Porcupine
    (Hystrix cristata)
    The crested porcupine is found in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Indian crested porcupine is found in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Yemen. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Indian Crested Porcupine
    (Hystrix indica)
    The Indian crested porcupine is found in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Yemen. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Sunda porcupine is found in Indonesia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Sunda Porcupine
    (Hystrix javanica)
    The Sunda porcupine is found in Indonesia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Philippine porcupine is found in the Philippines. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Philippine Porcupine
    (Hystrix pumila)
    The Philippine porcupine is found in the Philippines. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable

Did You Know?

The Indian Crested porcupine is a member of this family.
The Indian Crested porcupine is a member of this family.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

No animals found.

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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