Biology:List of hystricids

From HandWiki
Short description: Species in mammal family Hystricidae

Template:Featured list is only for Wikipedia:Featured lists.

Brown and white porcupine
Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica)

Hystricidae is a family of mammals in the order Rodentia and part of the infraorder Hystricognathi. Members of this family are called hystricids or Old World porcupines. They are found in Southern Europe, the Levant, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, and can be found in shrublands, grasslands, forests and savannas, though some species have particular habitat and dietary requirements. They range in size from the long-tailed porcupine, at 48 cm (19 in) plus a 23 cm (9 in) tail, to the crested porcupine, at 93 cm (37 in) plus a 17 cm (7 in) tail. Hystricids are primarily herbivores and eat grasses, bulbs, tubers, fruit, bark, and roots, though insects and carrion are occasionally eaten. No hystricids have population estimates, and none are categorized as an endangered species or critically endangered.

The eleven extant species of Hystricidae are divided into three genera: Atherurus consists of two species, the African and Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine, Hystrix contains eight species of porcupines in three subgenera, and Trichys consists of a single species, the long-tailed porcupine. At least eight extinct prehistoric hystricid species have been discovered, with the most recent new description of an extinct species occurring in 2023.[1]

Conventions

Template:IUCN statuses

The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List data for that species.

Classification

Hystricidae is a family consisting of eleven species in three genera.

  • Family Hystricidae
    • Genus Atherurus (brush-tailed porcupines): two species
    • Genus Hystrix (Old World porcupines): eight species
    • Genus Trichys (long-tailed porcupine): one species
Africa, Italy, and Asia
Hystricidae distribution map

Hystricids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.[2]

Genus Atherurus – F. Cuvier, 1829 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
African brush-tailed porcupine

Brown porcupine

A. africanus
(J. E. Gray, 1842) 		Central Africa
Map of range 		Size: 36–60 cm (14–24 in) long, plus 10–26 cm (4–10 in) tail[3]

Habitat: Forest[4]

Diet: Vegetation, bark, roots, tubers, and fruit, as well as cultivated crops, insects, and carrion[5] 		 LC 


Unknown Unknown[4]

Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine

Brown porcupine

A. macrourus
(Linnaeus, 1758) 		Southeast Asia, southern China
Map of range 		Size: 38–57 cm (15–22 in) long, plus 16–20 cm (6–8 in) tail[6]

Habitat: Forest, shrubland[7]

Diet: Vegetation, bark, roots, tubers, and fruit, as well as cultivated crops, insects, and carrion[5] 		 LC 


Unknown Population declining[7]

Genus Hystrix – Linnaeus, 1758 – eight species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Cape porcupine

Brown and white porcupine

H. africaeaustralis
Peters, 1852

Two subspecies
  • H. a. africaeaustralis
  • H. a. zuluensis
Southern Africa
Map of range 		Size: 63–81 cm (25–32 in) long, plus 10–13 cm (4–5 in) tail[8]

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland[9]

Diet: Bark, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fruit, and cultivated crops, occasionally insects, small vertebrates, and carrion[10] 		 LC 


Unknown Population steady[9]

Crested porcupine

Black and white porcupine

H. cristata
(Linnaeus, 1758) 		Africa, Italy
Map of range 		Size: 45–93 cm (18–37 in) long, plus 6–17 cm (2–7 in) tail[11]

Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, rocky areas[12]

Diet: Bark, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fruit, and cultivated crops, as well as carrion[10] 		 LC 


Unknown Unknown[12]

Indian crested porcupine

Brown and white porcupine

H. indica
Kerr, 1792 		The Levant and south Asia
Map of range 		Size: 45–93 cm (18–37 in) long, plus 6–17 cm (2–7 in) tail[13]

Habitat: Forest, shrubland, grassland[14]

Diet: Bark, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fruit, and cultivated crops, as well as carrion[10] 		 LC 


Unknown Population steady[14]

Malayan porcupine

Brown and white porcupine

H. brachyura
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Five subspecies
  • H. b. brachyura
  • H. b. bengalensis
  • H. b. hodgsoni
  • H. b. subcristata
  • H. b. yunnanensis
China, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia
Map of range 		Size: 45–93 cm (18–37 in) long, plus 6–17 cm (2–7 in) tail[15]

Habitat: Forest, shrubland, grassland[16]

Diet: Bark, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fruit, and cultivated crops, as well as carrion[10] 		 LC 


Unknown Population declining[16]

Philippine porcupine

Black porcupine

H. pumila
(Günther, 1879) 		Palawan
Map of range 		Size: 45–67 cm (18–26 in) long, plus 6–19 cm (2–7 in) tail[15]

Habitat: Forest, shrubland[17]

Diet: Bark, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fruit, and cultivated crops, as well as carrion[10] 		 VU 


Unknown Population declining[17]

Sumatran porcupine

Black and white porcupine

H. sumatrae
(Lyon, 1907) 		Sumatra
Map of range 		Size: 45–56 cm (18–22 in) long, plus 9–11 cm (4–4 in) tail[6]

Habitat: Forest, shrubland[18]

Diet: Bark, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fruit, and cultivated crops, as well as carrion[10] 		 LC 


Unknown Population steady[18]

Sunda porcupine

Brown and white porcupine

H. javanica
(F. Cuvier, 1823) 		Java
Map of range 		Size: 45–66 cm (18–26 in) long, plus 6–17 cm (2–7 in) tail[11]

Habitat: Forest, shrubland[19]

Diet: Bark, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fruit, and cultivated crops, as well as carrion[10] 		 LC 


Unknown Population steady[19]

Thick-spined porcupine

Brown porcupine illustration

H. crassispinis
(Günther, 1877) 		Borneo
Map of range 		Size: 45–67 cm (18–26 in) long, plus 6–19 cm (2–7 in) tail[15]

Habitat: Forest[20]

Diet: Bark, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fruit, and cultivated crops, as well as carrion[10] 		 LC 


Unknown Population steady[20]

Genus Trichys – Günther, 1877 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Long-tailed porcupine

Brown porcupine under a desk

T. fasciculata
(Shaw, 1801) 		Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia
Map of range 		Size: 35–48 cm (14–19 in) long, plus 17–24 cm (7–9 in) tail[3]

Habitat: Forest[21]

Diet: Seeds, vegetation from trees, shrubs, and bamboo[3] 		 LC 


Unknown Population steady[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Fossilworks: Hystricidae". Paleobiology Database. University of Wisconsin–Madison. https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=42009. 
  2. ↑ Wilson, Reeder, pp. 1543-1544
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Barthelmess, p. 323
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hoffmann, M.; Cox, N. (2016). "Atherurus africanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2353A22231384.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/2353/22231384. Retrieved 20 July 2025. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Nowak, p. 1645
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Barthelmess, p. 324
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Molur, S. (2020). "Atherurus macrourus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T2354A166518819.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/2354/166518819. Retrieved 20 July 2025. 
  8. ↑ Barthelmess, p. 327
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cassola, F. (2016). "Hystrix africaeaustralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T10748A22232321.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10748/22232321. Retrieved 20 July 2025. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 Nowak, p. 1647
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Barthelmess, p. 326
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Amori, G.; De Smet, K. (2016). "Hystrix cristata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10746A22232484.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10746/22232484. Retrieved 20 July 2025. 
  13. ↑ Barthelmess, p. 328
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Amori, G.; Hutterer, R.; Kryštufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsainas, G.; Palomo, L. J. (2021). "Hystrix indica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T10751A197516522.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10751/197516522. Retrieved 20 July 2025. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Barthelmess, p. 325
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lunde, D.; Aplin, K.; Molur, S. (2016). "Hystrix brachyura". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T10749A22232129.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10749/22232129. Retrieved 20 July 2025. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Clayton, E. (2018). "Hystrix pumila". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T10753A22231557.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10753/22231557. Retrieved 20 July 2025. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Amori, G.; Aplin, K. (2016). "Hystrix sumatrae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10754A22231673.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10754/22231673. Retrieved 20 July 2025. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Aplin, K. (2016). "Hystrix javanica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10752A22231749.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10752/22231749. Retrieved 20 July 2025. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Cassola, F. (2016). "Hystrix crassispinis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10750A22232051.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10750/22232051. Retrieved 20 July 2025. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Aplin, K. (2017). "Trichys fasciculata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T22132A22232753.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22132/22232753. Retrieved 20 July 2025. 

Sources

  • Barthelmess, Erika L. (2016). Handbook of the Mammals of the World. 6. Lagomorphs and Rodents I. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4. 
  • Nowak, Ronald M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 (6th ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-5789-8. 
  • Mammal Species of the World. 2 (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. 2005. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. 

Template:Mammal lists



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Biology:List_of_hystricids&oldid=4511743"