Hystrix

From Freepedia

? Hystrix Fossil Range: Early Miocene - Recent
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Hystricidae Subfamily: Hystricinae Genus: Hystrix
Species
Hystrix africaeaustralis Hystrix brachyura Hystrix crassispinis Hystrix cristata Hystrix indica Hystrix javanica Hystrix pumila Hystrix sumatrae

Hystrix is a genus of porcupine that contains what are the best known and most distinctive of the Old World porcupines.

Characteristics

Hystrix has a shorter tail than the other Old World porcupines, Atherurus and Trichys. Hystrix porcupines have hollow quills on their tails that, when shaken produce a rattling sound. This sound, when combined with the formidible quills, causes other animals to grant this species a wide berth. The animals also make loud grunts and will stamp their feet prior to charging backward at their suspected molester.

These porcupines are predominantly terrestrial and rarely attempt to climb trees.

Cranially, Hystrix is notable for its highly enlarged nasal bones and sinus cavities.

Species

• Genus Hystrix
  • Subgenus Thecurus
    • Hystrix crassispinis - Thick-spined Porcupine
    • Hystrix pumila - Philippine Porcupine
    • Hystrix sumatrae - Sumatran Porcupine
  • Subgenus Acanthion
    • Hystrix brachyura - Malayan Porcupine
    • Hystrix javanica - Sunda Porcupine
  • Subgenus Hystrix
    • Hystrix africaeaustralis - Cape Porcupine
    • Hystrix cristata - Crested Porcupine
    • Hystrix indica - Indian Porcupine

References

• Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-801-85789-9