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List of erethizontids

{{short description|Species in mammal family Erethizontidae}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}

File:Porcupine-BioDome.jpg (Erethizon dorsatum)|alt=Brown and white porcupine]]

Erethizontidae is a family of mammals in the order Rodentia and part of the Caviomorpha parvorder. Members of this family are called erethizontids or New World porcupines. They are found in North America, Central America, and South America, primarily in forests, though some species can be found in shrublands, grasslands, and savannas. They range in size from the Paraguaian hairy dwarf porcupine, at {{convert|24|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} plus a {{convert|9|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail, to the North American porcupine, at {{convert|130|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} plus a {{convert|25|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail. Erethizontids are herbivores and primarily eat leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots. No erethizontids have population estimates, and none are categorized as an endangered species or critically endangered.

The eighteen extant species of Erethizontidae are divided into two subfamilies: Chaetomyinae consists of a single species, the bristle-spined rat, and Erethizontinae contains seventeen species of porcupines in two genera. A few extinct prehistoric erethizontid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries, the exact number and categorization is not fixed.

Conventions

{{IUCN statuses|ex=0|ew=0|cr=0|en=0|vu=2|nt=0|lc=9|dd=6|ne=1}}

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the erethizontid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

Classification

Erethizontidae is a family consisting of eighteen species in three genera, divided between two subfamilies. Chaetomyinae consists of a single species, and Erethizontinae contains seventeen species of porcupines in two genera.

Erethizontids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.

=Subfamily Chaetomyinae=

{{Main|Chaetomyinae}}

{{Species table |no-note=y |genus=Chaetomys |authority-name=Thomas |authority-year=1897 |species-count=one}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Bristle-spined rat |binomial=C. subspinosus

|image=File:Chaetomys_subspinosus-2013.gif |image-size=180px |image-alt=Brown porcupine

|authority-name=Olfers |authority-year=1818 |authority-not-original=yes

|range=Eastern Brazil |range-image=File:Distribui%C3%A7%C3%A3o_geogr%C3%A1fica_de_Chaetomys_subspinosus.png |range-image-size=92px

|size={{convert|36|–|45|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|26|–|27|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Nuts

|iucn-status=VU |population=Unknown

|direction={{decrease|Population declining}}

}}

{{Species table/end}}

=Subfamily Erethizontinae=

{{Main|Erethizontinae}}

{{Species table |no-note=y |genus=Coendou |authority-name=Lacépède |authority-year=1799 |species-count=sixteen}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Andean porcupine |binomial=C. quichua

|image=File:Porcupine_6.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black and white porcupine

|authority-name=Thomas |authority-year=1899

|range=Panama and northeastern South America |range-image= |range-image-size=145px

|size={{convert|33|–|44|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|26|–|41|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=DD |population=Unknown

|direction={{decrease|Population declining}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Bahia porcupine |binomial=C. insidiosus

|image=File:Coendou insidiosus 363764971.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black porcupine

|authority-name=Olfers |authority-year=1818 |authority-not-original=yes

|range=Eastern Brazil |range-image= |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|29|–|35|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|18|–|22|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Baturite porcupine |binomial=C. baturitensis

|image=File:Coendou_baturitensis_Mulungu-CE.JPG |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black and white porcupine

|authority-name=Feijó & Langguth |authority-year=2013

|range=Northeastern Brazil |range-image= |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|46|–|55|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|32|–|47|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=DD |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Bicolored-spined porcupine |binomial=C. bicolor

|image=File:Coendu_bicolor.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black and white porcupine

|authority-name=Tschudi |authority-year=1844 |authority-not-original=yes

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Four subspecies |bullets=on

| C. b. bicolor

| C. b. quichua

| C. b. richardsoni

| C. b. simonsi

}}

|range=Western and northwestern South America |range-image=File:Coendou_bicolor_Distribution_Map.png |range-image-size=119px

|size={{convert|38|–|50|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|33|–|54|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Black dwarf porcupine |binomial=C. nycthemera

|image=File:Coendou_nycthemera_250736201.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black and yellow porcupine

|authority-name=Olfers |authority-year=1818 |authority-not-original=yes

|range=Northern Brazil |range-image=File:Coendou_nycthemera_Distribution_Map.png |range-image-size=119px

|size={{convert|29|–|38|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|28|–|37|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=DD |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Black-tailed hairy dwarf porcupine |binomial=C. melanurus

|image=File:Black-tailed_hairy_dwarf_porcupine.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black and white porcupine

|authority-name=Wagner |authority-year=1842 |authority-not-original=yes

|range=Northern South America |range-image= |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|28|–|38|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|22|–|36|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Brazilian porcupine |binomial=C. prehensilis

|image=File:Prehensile-tailed porcupine sitting in tree - DPLA - fff999db3a9db19f15867971b2eea9db.jpg |image-size=116px |image-alt=Black and white porcupine

|authority-name=Linnaeus |authority-year=1758 |authority-not-original=yes

|range=South America |range-image=File:Coendou prehensilis Distribution Map.png |range-image-size=120px

|size={{convert|29|–|48|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|31|–|43|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{steady|Population steady}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Brown hairy dwarf porcupine |binomial=C. vestitus

|image=File:Brown_hairy_dwarf_porcupine_-_Coendou_vestitus_(02)_-_NHMI.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Light brown porcupine

|authority-name=Thomas |authority-year=1899

|range=Central Colombia |range-image= |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|29|–|37|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|17|–|19|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=DD |population=Unknown

|direction={{decrease|Population declining}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Dwarf porcupine |binomial=C. speratus

|image=File:Pernambuco Dwarf Porcupine, Pernambuco, BR imported from iNaturalist photo 484962573.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black and yellow porcupine

|authority-name=Pontes, Gadelha, Melo, de Sá, Loss, Caldara Jr., Costa, & Leite |authority-year=2013

|range=Eastern Brazil |range-image= |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|33|–|44|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|29|–|32|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=VU |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Frosted hairy dwarf porcupine |binomial=C. pruinosus

|image= |image-size=180px |image-alt=

|authority-name=Thomas |authority-year=1905

|range=Colombia and Venezuela |range-image= |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|32|–|38|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus about {{convert|19|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine |binomial=C. mexicanus

|image=File:Coendou mexicanus 35816270.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black and yellow porcupine

|authority-name=Kerr |authority-year=1792 |authority-not-original=yes

|range=Mexico and Central America |range-image=File:Coendou mexicanus range.svg |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|35|–|46|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|20|–|36|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Paraguaian hairy dwarf porcupine |binomial=C. spinosus

|image=File:Coendou spinosus (cropped).jpeg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black and yellow porcupine

|authority-name=Cuvier |authority-year=1822 |authority-not-original=yes

|range=Southeastern South America |range-image= |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|24|–|55|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|20|–|38|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest and savanna

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Roosmalen's dwarf porcupine |binomial=C. roosmalenorum

|image= |image-size=180px |image-alt=

|authority-name=Voss & da Silva |authority-year=2001

|range=Western Brazil |range-image= |range-image-size=180px

|size=About {{convert|29|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus about {{convert|26|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=DD |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Rothschild's porcupine |binomial=C. rothschildi

|image=File:Porcupine_6.jpg |image-size=180px |image-alt=Black and white porcupine

|authority-name=Thomas |authority-year=1902

|range=Panama |range-image=File:Coendou_rothschildi_Distribution_Map.png |range-image-size=145px

|size={{convert|33|–|44|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|26|–|41|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=NE |population=Unknown

|direction={{decrease|Population declining}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Streaked dwarf porcupine |binomial=C. ichillus

|image= |image-size=180px |image-alt=

|authority-name=Voss & da Silva |authority-year=2001

|range=Eastern Ecuador |range-image=File:Sphiggurus_ichillus_Distribution_Map.png |range-image-size=121px

|size={{convert|26|–|29|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|21|–|25|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=DD |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/row

|name=Stump-tailed porcupine |binomial=C. rufescens

|image=File:Coendou rufescens 83352911.png |image-size=180px |image-alt=Brown and white porcupine

|authority-name=J. E. Gray |authority-year=1865 |authority-not-original=yes

|range=Northwestern and central South America |range-image= |range-image-size=180px

|size={{convert|31|–|37|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|10|–|15|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest

|hunting=Leaves, stems, fruit, blossoms, and roots

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{population change unknown}}

}}

{{Species table/end}}

{{Species table |no-note=y |genus=Erethizon |authority-name=F. Cuvier |authority-year=1823 |species-count=one}}

{{Species table/row

|name=North American porcupine |binomial=E. dorsatum

|image=File:Porcupine-BioDome.jpg |image-size=144px |image-alt=Brown and white porcupine

|authority-name=Linnaeus |authority-year=1758 |authority-not-original=yes

|subspecies={{Collapsible list |expand= |title=Seven subspecies |bullets=on

| E. d. bruneri

| E. d. couesi

| E. d. dorsata

| E. d. epixanthus

| E. d. myops

| E. d. nigrescens

| E. d. picinum

}}

|range=North America |range-image=File:Erethizon_dorsatum_map.svg |range-image-size=154px

|size={{convert|60|–|130|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, plus {{convert|16|–|25|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tail

|habitat=Forest, shrubland, and grassland

|hunting=Buds, twigs, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds, berries, nuts, and other vegetation

|iucn-status=LC |population=Unknown

|direction={{steady|Population steady}}

}}

{{Species table/end}}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=42135 |title=Fossilworks: Erethizontidae |work=Paleobiology Database |publisher=University of Wisconsin–Madison |access-date=June 7, 2025 |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123182014/https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=42135 |url-status=live}}

Wilson, Reeder, pp. 1545-1549

Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, p. 353

Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, p. 354

Nowak, pp. 1654–1656

Nowak, p. 1658

Nowak, p. 1701

{{cite iucn |last1=Catzeflis |first1=F. |last2=Patton |first2=J. |last3=Percequillo |first3=A. |last4=Bonvicino |first4=C. R. |last5=Weksler |first5=M. |title=Chaetomys subspinosus |volume=2017 |page=e.T4366A22213335 |date=2017 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T4366A22213335.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Roach |first1=N. |title=Coendou baturitensis |volume=2016 |page=e.T87411473A87411477 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T87411473A87411477.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Delgado |first1=C. |title=Coendou bicolor |volume=2016 |page=e.T5083A22214310 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T5083A22214310.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Weksler |first1=M. |last2=Anderson |first2=R. P. |last3=Gómez-Laverde |first3=M. |title=Coendou ichillus |volume=2016 |page=e.T136597A22213629 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136597A22213629.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Roach |first1=N. |last2=Naylor |first2=L. |title=Coendou insidiosus |volume=2016 |page=e.T20631A22213745 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T20631A22213745.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Catzeflis |first1=F. . |title=Coendou melanurus |volume=2016 |page=e.T136738A22213900 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136738A22213900.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1= Vázquez |first1=E. |last2=Reid |first2=F. |last3=Cuarón |first3=A. D. |title=Coendou mexicanus |volume=2016 |page=e.T20629A22214103 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T20629A22214103.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Delgado |first1=C. |title=Coendou nycthemera |volume=2016 |page=e.T5084A22214228 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T5084A22214228.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Marinho-Filho |first1=J. |last2=Emmons |first2=L. |title=Coendou prehensilis |volume=2016 |page=e.T101228458A22214580 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T101228458A22214580.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Delgado |first1=C. . |title=Coendou pruinosus |volume=2016 |page=e.T136485A22213797 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136485A22213797.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Delgado |first1=C. |title=Coendou quichua |volume=2016 |page=e.T136702A22214415 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136702A22214415.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Roach |first1=N. |last2=Naylor |first2=L. |title=Coendou roosmalenorum |volume=2016 |page=e.T136518A22214051 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136518A22214051.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Tirira |first1=D. |title=Coendou rufescens |volume=2016 |page=e.T7010A22213241 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T7010A22213241.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Hurtado Materon |first1=M. A. |last2=Mendes Pontes |first2=A. R. |last3=Torres-Martinez |first3=M. M. |last4=Lawing |first4=M. |title=Coendou speratus |volume=2024 |page=e.T46205559A259146246 |date=2024 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T46205559A259146246.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Roach |first1=N. |last2=Naylor |first2=L. |title=Coendou spinosus |volume=2016 |page=e.T20630A22213974 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T20630A22213974.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Weksler |first1=M. |last2=Anderson |first2=R. P. |last3=Gómez-Laverde |first3=M. |title=Coendou vestitus |volume=2016 |page=e.T20633A22213528 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T20633A22213528.en}}

{{cite iucn |last1=Emmons |first1=L. |title=Erethizon dorsatum |volume=2016 |page=e.T8004A22213161 |date=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T8004A22213161.en}}

}}

Sources

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite book |title=All the Mammals of the World |date=2023 |publisher=Lynx Nature Books |editor-last1=Chernasky |editor-first1=Amy |editor-last2=Motis |editor-first2=Anna |editor-last3=Burgin |editor-first3=Connor |isbn=978-84-16728-66-4 |ref=CITEREF_ALLMAM}}
  • {{cite book |title=Walker's Mammals of the World |last=Nowak |first=Ronald M. |date=1999 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |edition=6th |volume=2 |isbn=978-0-8018-5789-8 |ref=CITEREF_MamWorld}}
  • {{cite book |title=Mammal Species of the World |edition=3rd |volume=2 |editor-last1=Wilson |editor-first1=Don E. |editor-link1=Don E. Wilson |editor-last2=Reeder |editor-first2=DeeAnn M. |author-last1=Woods |author-first1=Charles A. |author-last2=Kilpatrick |author-first2=C. William |date=2005 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |isbn=978-0-8018-8221-0 |ref=CITEREF_MSW}}

{{refend}}

{{Mammal lists}}

erethizontidae

erethizontidae