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		Brazilian Porcupine - Coendou prehensilis Rothschild's Porcupine - Coendou rothschildi Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine - Sphiggurus mexicanus

Other Species Around the World
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click 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

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

North American Porcupine - Erethizon dorsatum
The North American porcupine is found in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Roosmalen's Porcupine - Sphiggurus roosmalenorum
Roosmalen's porcupine is found in Brazil.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School