They are found in southern Europe, South East Asia, throughout India and Africa. Old world porcupines. No porcupine can throw its quills, but they detach easily and will remain embedded in an attacker. Porcupine habitats range from deserts, forests and grasslands. Erethizontidae - New World porcupines. What sets porcupines apart from most rodents is their ability to protect themselves with their large spines, also called quills. Old World porcupines are mostly terrestrial, meaning they live on the ground, and are quite large. The porcupine feeds largely on the inner bark of trees in winter, but it will also feed on a variety of other plants. Larger individuals can reach a length of 33 inches and can weigh 29-59 lbs. They can be found burrowing in cavities and holes among tree roots along river banks (Khan, 1992; Choe, 2006). 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 . Two families of rodents are called porcupines. They live in forests and deserts, and on rocky outcrops and hillsides. Hystricidae a family of mammals of the order Rodentia, comprising the Old World porcupines. Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) have quills in clusters, whereas in New World porcupines (Erethizontidae) single quills are mixed with bristles, underfur, and hair. Porcupines can live in any terrain, including deserts, grasslands, mountains, rainforests, and forests. (Hystricidae is the old scientific name for the family of rodents to which the porcupine belongs. " The 11 Old World porcupines tend to be fairly large, and have spikes grouped in clusters. The word porcupine comes from the old french word porcespin, which roughly translates as thorn pig. MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF THE OLD WORLD PORCUPINES (FAMILY HYSTRICIDAE) 3 J. Some New World porcupines live in trees, but Old World porcupines stay on the rocks. 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. American porcupines. New World porcupines are much smaller, and many varieties live in trees. Quills actually are released through contact and sometimes a few may fall out when a porcupine shakes its body vigorously. The New World porcupines are primarily found in the Americas; whereas, the Old World porcupines are often found in Europe, Asia and Africa. Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) have quills embedded in clusters, whereas in New World porcupines (Erethizontidae) single quills are interspersed with bristles, underfur, and hair. Resources. 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. The Old World porcupines live in southern Europe, Asia and across Africa. Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) have quills embedded in clusters, whereas in New World porcupines (Erethizontidae) single quills are interspersed with bristles, underfur, and hair. Old World Porcupines – Hystricidae. The body measures 38-71 cm long and weighs up to 27 kg. Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that protect against predators. 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 porcupines stomach is the only area not protected by quills. May 10, 2018 - Infraorder: Hystricognathi; Family Hystricidae: Old World porcupines. Porcupine Habitat. 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