AnimalsThe Indian crested porcupine is a large rodent covered in long black and white quills. When threatened it raises and rattles them, and may run backwards at an attacker. It cannot shoot its quills. It feeds at night on roots, bulbs and crops.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Hystrix indica
- Group
- Mammals
- Diet
- Herbivore (eats plants)
- Lives in
- South and West Asia
- Habitat
- Rocky hills, scrub and farmland
- A young one is called
- porcupette
- A group is called
- prickle
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
How it is classified
Scientists sort living things into groups within groups. Reading down, each step is a smaller group, ending with the species itself.
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Mammalia
- Order Rodentia
- Family Hystricidae
- Genus Hystrix
- Species Hystrix indica
More distant relatives in the order Rodentia: house mouse, Indian palm squirrel, North American beaver.
Classification follows the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Other reference works arrange some groups differently. How classification works.
Is it in danger?
The Indian crested porcupine is listed as Least Concern. The species is widespread or numerous enough that it is not considered at risk of extinction at present.
This is the IUCN Red List category as recorded in Wikidata on 11 November 2026. The IUCN Red List itself is the authority and may carry a newer assessment. What the categories mean.