Old World Porcupine

Old World Porcupine

Atherurus
Hystrix
Trichys

The Old World porcupines, or Hystricidae, are large terrestrial rodents, distinguished by the spiny covering from which they take their name. They range over the south of Europe, most of Africa, India, and the Maritime Southeast Asia as far east as Borneo. Although both the Old World and New World porcupine families belong to the Hystricognathi branch of the vast order Rodentia, they are quite different and are not closely related.

Read more about Old World Porcupine:  Characteristics, Species

Famous quotes containing the words world and/or porcupine:

    You may drive a dog off the King’s armchair, and it will climb into the preacher’s pulpit; he views the world unmoved, unembarrassed, unabashed.
    —Jean De La Bruyère (1645–1696)

    There was ... a large, shaggy dog, whose nose, report said, was full of porcupine quills. I can testify that he looked very sober. This is the usual fortune of pioneer dogs, for they have to face the brunt of the battle for their race.... When a generation or two have used up all their enemies’ darts, their successors lead a comparatively easy life. We owe to our fathers analogous blessings.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)