In taxonomic terms, they form the family Hystricidae. Their body length varies between 11-19 inches and their weight varies between 3.3-5lbs. The Old World porcupines live in southern Europe, Asia (western and southern), and most of Africa. The New World porcupines live in North and South America. The spikes of old world porcupines are longer and exist in clusters interspersed with shorter quills. Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) have quills embedded in clusters, whereas in New World porcupines (Erethizontidae) single quills are interspersed with bristles, underfur, and hair. New World porcupines are much smaller, and many varieties live in trees. They weigh between 12 and 25 pounds. Resources. Old World Porcupines have cluster quills and the single quills of New World Porcupines are interspersed with hair, under fur and bristles. Old world porcupines are larger and heavily built. Porcupine quills are as sharp as needles, can be removed very easily, and will stay stuck in an attacker. They live in wooded areas and can climb trees, where some species spend their entire lives. Some species of New World porcupines live in trees, however, Old World porcupines are exclusively terrestrial (ground dwellers). You will find porcupines in the Americas enjoy exploring the trees and water as much as land. Porcupine habitats range from deserts, forests and grasslands. ə‚dē] (vertebrate zoology) The Old World porcupines, a family of Rodentia ranging from southern Europe to Africa and eastern Asia and into the Philippines. They prefer wooded habitats and are apt at climbing trees. Porcupines have long spiny barbed hairs or quills. The porcupines stomach is the only area not protected by quills. 8. The Old World porcupines belong to family Hystricidae of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Old World porcupines can be any species of rodents in the family Hystricidae. Porcupines do not throw their quills. Porcupine Habitat. Unlike the old world porcupines, the new world porcupines have adapted to tree climbing (Although they are not the most agile climbers, they get it done. Porcupines. Some New World porcupines live in trees, but Old World porcupines stay on the rocks. 3. Back to top Feeding. Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) have quills in clusters, whereas in New World porcupines (Erethizontidae) single quills are mixed with bristles, underfur, and hair. Volume 12(1) 2017: 1-11 quills; black-brown to grey-brown on the upper back and white to light brown on the underside (Choe, 2006). Some New World porcupines live in trees, but Old World porcupines stay on the rocks. Porcupines occupy a short range of habitats in tropical and temperate parts of Asia, Southern Europe, Africa, and North and South America. Like their New World equivalents, the North American porcupines, Old World porcupines are large, heavyset, slow-moving animals that rely on their imposing quills for defense rather than on speed or agility.The largest hystricids may exceed 25 kg in weight; others weigh a kilogram or two. Porcupines with short quills around 4 inches (10 cm) long belong to the New World, while porcupines with quills that can grow up to 20 inches (51 cm) long, though there are some exceptions, belong to the Old World. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF THE OLD WORLD PORCUPINES (FAMILY HYSTRICIDAE) 3 J. Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) have quills embedded in clusters, whereas in New World porcupines (Erethizontidae) single quills are interspersed with bristles, underfur, and hair. They separated from the other hystricognaths about 30 million years ago, much earlier than the New World porcupines. New World porcupines have small quills that are around 4 inches (10 cm) long, while Old World porcupines have quills that can grow up to 20 inches … Old world porcupines. Porcupines live in forests, deserts, rocky outcrops and hillsides. Larger individuals can reach a length of 33 inches and can weigh 29-59 lbs. The body measures 38-71 cm long and weighs up to 27 kg. Erethizontidae - New World porcupines. ), they use their tails when climbing, are not as nocturnal and are mostly smaller. The Old World porcupines are large representatives of the terrestrial rodent mammals, distinguished by their spiny covering from which they take their name. What sets porcupines apart from most rodents is their ability to protect themselves with their large spines, also called quills. They are large, terrestrial, and strictly nocturnal. Porcupines have rounded bodies covered with fur in shades of brown, white, and gray. They can be found burrowing in cavities and holes among tree roots along river banks (Khan, 1992; Choe, 2006). The New World porcupines are indigenous to North America and northern South America. Keywords: 1900s, 20th century, Brehms Tierleben, color, Hystricidae, mammal, reference book, rodent. Let’s have a look at the porcupine’s main predators. The New World porcupines are 19 species of forest dwellers of the family Erethizontidae. The Old World porcupines live in southern Europe, Asia, and most of Africa. Porcupines also occur in Africa and Asia, but Old World porcupines do not belong to the same family as New World porcupines. The caption reads in the original German: Stachelschwein. They include the large crested porcupines, some of which can grow more than 2 … Two families of rodents are called porcupines. The 11 Old World porcupines are almost exclusively terrestrial, tend to be fairly large, and have quills that are grouped in clusters. The “Old World” porcupines live mainly in southern Europe, Asia, and Africa. They all have at least some hair modified into quills. The Crested Porcupine of North Africa and Italy is the fourth largest rodent and can weigh as much as 60 pounds (27 kg). Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that protect against predators. Size varies according to species, ranging from 25 to 36 inches long plus an 8 to 10 inch tail. Hystricidae a family of mammals of the order Rodentia, comprising the Old World porcupines. 2008 , Barbara A. Holzman, Tropical Forest Biomes [1] , page 115: They are found in southern Europe, South East Asia, throughout India and Africa. Old World porcupines are one of the few animals on the planet that are monogamous. The Old World porcupines live in southern Europe, Asia and across Africa. The Old World porcupines, or Hystricidae, are large terrestrial rodents, distinguished by the spiny covering from which they take their name. Old World porcupines are mostly terrestrial, meaning they live on the ground, and are quite large. Porcupines occupy a short range of habitats in tropical and temperate parts of Asia, Southern Europe, Africa, and North and South America. Males and females, in both the old and the new world look about the same. There are 18 species in this family. This group consists of large, nocturnal, land-based animals. The New World porcupines are primarily found in the Americas; whereas, the Old World porcupines are often found in Europe, Asia and Africa. See more ideas about porcupine, old world, rodents. However, the porcupines in other parts of the world typically remain on solid land for the most part. Sustain. There are 11 species within the old world porcupine family; they tend to be nocturnal and larger than the new world family with a couple of exceptions. They are characterized by the thick spines which cover their bodies. Old World porcupines are terrestrial and strictly nocturnal, and have longer quills. Sci. Porcupines can live in any terrain, including deserts, grasslands, mountains, rainforests, and forests. Porcupines live in forests, deserts, rocky outcrops and hillsides. American porcupines. Quills actually are released through contact and sometimes a few may fall out when a porcupine shakes its body vigorously. (Hystricidae is the old scientific name for the family of rodents to which the porcupine belongs. " No porcupine can throw its quills, but they detach easily and will remain embedded in an attacker. Old-world porcupines (Order: Rodentia Family: Hystricidae) face many threats, including an increasing demand for their different body parts such as meat, quills, hairs and bezoars.Bezoars are masses of undigested organic and inorganic material that are occasionally formed in an animal’s gastrointestinal tract. The word porcupine comes from the old french word porcespin, which roughly translates as thorn pig. The 11 Old World porcupines tend to be fairly large, and have spikes grouped in clusters. Manage. Old World Porcupines – Hystricidae. They are found in North, Central and South America. No porcupine can throw its quills, but they detach easily and will remain embedded in an attacker. The porcupine feeds largely on the inner bark of trees in winter, but it will also feed on a variety of other plants. The 11 species (3 genera) of this family are found in Africa and Asia. They make a den in the trees or live in tangled tree roots. Old World porcupine (plural Old World porcupines) Any of the large, spiny-furred rodents of the family Hystricidae , native to the southern Eurasia and Africa . However, they still have a lot of natural predators who hunt them against all odds. Habitat and Range They include the largest porcupine species, the African Cape porcupine, whose extremely long spines (up to 20 inches), can be raised like a crest to make them appear twice as large. They are also smaller and more diurnal than their Old World counterparts. "Hystricidae is the most enigmatic. Old World porcupines have spines or quills grouped in clusters, while the quills are attached separately for New World porcupines. They range in size from 17-32 inches in length. The Old World porcupines are ground-dwellers, and usually live in pairs or small groups. May 10, 2018 - Infraorder: Hystricognathi; Family Hystricidae: Old World porcupines. While there are 58 species of new and old world porcupines, distibuted over two different families. The New World porcupines are indigenous to North America and northern South America. The species of new world porcupines use their long curved claws to climb trees and also, they have tails that make their grip on the trees. 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