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The porcupines inhabits all continents except Australia
[[Image:Porcupine.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]
[[Image:Porcupine.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]
The '''porcupine''' is a large heavyset quilled [[rodent]]. It has short legs that move it slowly and it is usually solitary, [[nocturnal]], and spends much of its time in [[tree]]s.
The '''porcupine''' is a large heavyset quilled rodent. It has short legs that move it slowly and it is usually solitary and [[nocturnal]]. Forms are found on all continents except [[Australia]] in two families containing six genera in the Old World and five in the [[New World|New]].
:*The Crested Porcupine (''Hystrix'') inhabits the edges of the [[Mediterranean]], parts of [[Africa]] and Southern and Western [[Asia]].
:* A similar species but not crested lives in South-east Asia and islands of [[Indonesia]].
:*Two brush-tailed versions (Atherura) share the habitats of the crestless porcupine above, and in West and west-central Africa. They both live in holes in the ground, eat insects as well as vegetable matter and vary from each other only in type of quill.
:* Finally, in the Old World, there are the “Rat Porcupines”, (''Trychis''), forms of which dwell in [[Borneo]], [[Sumatra]] and part of the [[Malaysia|Malay Peninsular]].
The Family ''Erithizontidae'' the Americas contains two major forms and a number of intermediate types.
:*The North American forms are large ground-living and tree-climbing animals, the western form larger than the eastern but with a shorter tail.
:*The tropical forests of Central and South America contain porcupines with prehensile tails. These tails are hairless and sturdy and are used to hang from. The northern family is furred between the spikes, the southern naked but for the spikes.
The following refers to the North American porcupines.
The porcupine's barbed quills detach easily and can become embedded in the flesh of an attacker. Not only do they inflict painful wounds, but they also work into the skin and may even cause death if they puncture vital organs or if the wounds become [[infection|infected]]. Porcupine quills embedded in an attacker's face may prevent the assailant from feeding successfully, leading to death from [[starvation]].
The porcupine's barbed quills detach easily and can become embedded in the flesh of an attacker. Not only do they inflict painful wounds, but they also work into the skin and may even cause death if they puncture vital organs or if the wounds become [[infection|infected]]. Porcupine quills embedded in an attacker's face may prevent the assailant from feeding successfully, leading to death from [[starvation]].