Indian Porcupine

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About Indian Porcupine

It is a large rodent native to Southern Asia and the Middle East.
It belongs to the Old World porcupine family, Hystricidae.
Scientific Name: Hystrix indica
Geographical Range: It is found throughout southeast and central Asia and in parts of the Middle East, including such countries as India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Israel, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
Habitat:
It mainly occurs on rocky hill sides but is also found in tropical and temperate scrublands, grasslands, and forests.
They are also found throughout the Himalayan Mountains, reaching up to elevations of 2400 meters.
Features:
- On average, the Indian porcupine’s head and body measure 70-90 centimeters (cm) in length, with a very short tail and spines flowing from the forehead all over its body.
- Weight: 10-20 kg
- Average Lifespan: 18 to 20 years
- Quills: A porcupine’s best defense is the formidable set of quills on its back. But it can’t “throw” them. When alarmed, the Indian Porcupine launches its quill for a backward attack. The quills come loose and stick to the skin, eyes, or mouth.
- Each quill is brown or black in color, with alternating bands of white.
- The feet and hands are broad, with long claws that are used for burrowing.
- It is nocturnal, with the species seeking shelter in caves, between rocks, or in its burrow during the day.
- Diet: They have a very broad and mostly herbivorous diet. They primarily feed on fruits, grains, roots, and other vegetable material, supplementing their diet by chewing bones, which provide them with the required minerals.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Least Concerned

Q1) What are Rodents?

Rodents are mammals with extra-large front teeth, or incisors. They use these teeth for gnawing to get at food and find shelter. There are three main groups of rodents: squirrels, mouse-like rodents, and cavy-like rodents.