Hystricids or Old World porcupines, members of Hystricidae, are a family of large, mostly terrestrial rodents, distinguished by the spiny covering from which they take their name.

In general, Old World porcupines are stout built animals, with rounded heads, mobile snouts, and coats of thick cylindrical or flattened spines, which form the whole covering of their bodies. These rodents are also characterized by the imperfectly rooted cheek-teeth, imperfect clavicles or collar-bones, cleft upper lips, smooth soles, and six teats arranged on the sides of their bodies.

Species

• cape_porcupine
• brush-tailed_porcupine
• crested_porcupine
• long-tailed_porcupine
• malayan_porcupine
• sunda_porcupine
• thick-spined_porcupine

See also

• mammal
• rodent
• porcupine
• erethizontid
• hystricid