Hystrix (porcupine)

White-tailed porcupine ( Hystrix leucura ) in the Berlin Zoological Garden

The authentics porcupines ( Hystrix ) is a genus of the family of porcupines ( Hystricidae ) with eight species in Africa, Southwest Asia and southern Europe.

Spur

The porcupines have the longest spines of all mammals. The spines are converted hair. In Dress the porcupines you will find a wide variety of hair: soft wool hair, stiffer hairs, bristles flat, thick, very elastic, long bristles and rigid, long round skewers. Individual skewers can be up to 40 cm long and have a diameter of 7 mm.

Species

The following species belong to the genus Hystrix:

• Subgenus Thecurus Hystrix crassispinis Günther, 1876
• Hystrix pumila Günther, 1879
• Hystrix sumatrae Lyon, 1907

• Brachyura Hystrix Linnaeus, 1758
• Hystrix javanica F. Cuvier, 1823

• South African porcupine ( Hystrix africaeaustralis )
• Porcupine ( Hystrix cristata )
• Indian porcupine ( Hystrix indica)