Porcupines are rodentian mammals covered with a coat of sharp spines, called ‘quills’, for protection against predators.  The Old World porcupines and the New World Porcupines are distributed into two evolutionary independent groups of the order Rodentia, suborder Hystricomorpha, along with a long list of infraorder, parvorder, subspecies, family and superfamilies.

Scientific Name – Hystricognathi

Classification – Hystricomorpha

Gender Names – Male – boar; Female – sow; Baby – porcupette

Collective Noun – Prickle

Length/Size – Varies between groups/subspecies

Weight – Varies between groups/subspecies

Top Speed – Varies between groups/subspecies

Life Expectancy – average 5 to 6 years

Mating Season – Varies between groups/subspecies

Gestation Period – 210 days

Special Features – The body is broad and stout body with toxic spikes

Social Structure – Solitary

Geographical Distribution – Old World porcupines live in southern Europe, Asia, and most of Africa; New World porcupines are indigenous to North America and northern South America

Natural Habitat – New World members live in forests and deserts, rocky outcrops and hillsides; Old World members stay on the rocks

Diet – Roots, Leaves, Berries

Predators – Owl, Eagles, Wolves