Hystrix (mammal)

Hystrix Temporal range: Early Miocene - Recent
Porcupine drinking water (Henry Vilas Zoo, Madison, Wisconsin)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Hystricidae
Genus:	Hystrix Linnaeus, 1758
Species
Hystrix africaeaustralis Hystrix brachyura Hystrix crassispinis Hystrix cristata Hystrix indica Hystrix javanica Hystrix pumila Hystrix sumatrae

Hystrix is a genus of porcupines containing most of the Old World porcupines. Fossils belonging to the genus date back to the late Miocene of Africa.

Hystrix was given name by the late 18th century Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus.

Species

• Genus Hystrix
  • Subgenus Thecurus
    • Hystrix crassispinis - thick-spined porcupine
    • Hystrix pumila - Philippine porcupine
    • Hystrix sumatrae - Sumatran porcupine
  • Subgenus Acanthion
    • Hystrix brachyura - Malayan porcupine or Himalayan crestless porcupine
    • Hystrix javanica - Sunda porcupine
  • Subgenus Hystrix
    • Hystrix africaeaustralis - Cape porcupine
    • Hystrix cristata - crested porcupine
    • Hystrix indica - Indian crested porcupine

References

• Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
• Woods, C. A.; Kilpatrick, C. W. (2005), "Hystricognathi", in Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.), Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 3rd ed., Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 1538–1600, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4