Erethizontidae - New World porcupines

There are 18 species in this family. They are found in North, Central and South America. They range in size from 17-32 inches in length.

Porcupines have long spiny barbed hairs or quills. They do not shoot their quills, if an attacking animals gets too close to a porcupine, the quills can embed themselves into the attacking animal.

Porcupines are nocturnal and live alone or in pairs. They have good hearing, but poor eyesight.

While some spcies in this family eat insects, amphibians, and reptiles, most species are herbivores and eat seeds, fruit, nuts, leaves, and other plant parts. Porcupines are found in a variety of habitats including coniferous and deciduous forests, mountains, grasslands, and deserts. Some species live in trees and others live in burrows or dens in the ground.

World Status Key

Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct Wild Extinct

Status taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key

Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

New Hampshire Species North/Central American Species North American Porcupine - Erethizon dorsatum Coendou prehensilis

Rothschild's Porcupine - Coendou rothschildi

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine - Sphiggurus mexicanus Brazilian Porcupine -Rothschild's Porcupine -Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine -



Other Species Around the World Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info AfricaAsiaAustralia/OceaniaEuropeNorth AmericaSouth AmericaNHClick for More Info Thin-spined Porcupine - Chaetomys subspinosus

Bicolor-spined Porcupine - Coendou bicolor

Koopman's Porcupine - Coendou nycthemera

Brazilian Porcupine - Coendou prehensilis

Andean Porcupine - Coendou quichua

Rothschild's Porcupine - Coendou rothschildi

Santa Marta Porcupine - Coendou sanctamartae

Stump-tailed Porcupine - Echinoprocta rufescens

North American Porcupine - Erethizon dorsatum

Streaked Dwarf Porcupine - Sphiggurus ichillus

Bahia Hairy Dwarf Porcupine - Sphiggurus insidiosus

Black-tailed Hairy Dwarf Porcupine - Sphiggurus melanurus

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine - Sphiggurus mexicanus

Frosted Hairy Dwarf Porcupine - Sphiggurus pruinosus

Roosmalen's Porcupine - Sphiggurus roosmalenorum

Paraguay Hairy Dwarf Porcupine - Sphiggurus spinosus

Brown Hairy Dwarf Porcupine - Sphiggurus vestitus

Orange-spined Hairy Dwarf Porcupine - Sphiggurus villosus

Additional Information

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