Basic info Taxonomic history Classification Included Taxa
Morphology Ecology and taphonomy External Literature Search Age range and collections

Erethizontoidea

Mammalia - Rodentia

Taxonomy
Erethizontoidea was named by Bonaparte (1845) [apparently first used at superfamily rank by Simpson 1945]. It is extant.

It was assigned to Caviomorpha by Carroll (1988) and Nowak (1999); and to Caviomorpha by Wood (1958), Wood and Patterson (1959) and Boivin et al. (2017).

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1845Erethizontoidea Bonaparte
1958Erethizontoidea Wood p. 172
1959Erethizontoidea Wood and Patterson
1988Erethizontoidea Carroll
1999Erethizontoidea Nowak
2017Erethizontoidea Boivin et al.

Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data

RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
RankNameAuthor
Mammaliamorpha
Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
Eutheria()
Placentalia
Boreoeutheria
EuarchontogliresMurphy et al. 2001
GliriformesWyss and Meng 1996
Glires()
Simplicidentata()
orderRodentiaBowdich 1821
CtenohystricaHuchon et al. 2000
infraorderHystricognathi(Tullberg 1899)
Caviomorpha(Wood and Patterson 1955)
superfamilyErethizontoideaBonaparte 1845
superfamilyErethizontoideaBonaparte 1845

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Superfm. Erethizontoidea Bonaparte 1845
show all | hide all
G. †Eosteiromys Ameghino 1902
+
Eosteiromys annectens Ameghino 1901
Eosteiromys homogenidens Ameghino 1902
Eosteiromys segregatus Ameghino 1902
Fm. Erethizontidae Bonaparte 1845 [porcupine]
+
G. †Branisamyopsis Candela 2003
+
Branisamyopsis australis Candela 2003
G. †Cholamys Pérez et al. 2018
+
Cholamys tetralophodonta Pérez et al. 2018
G. Coendou Lacépède 1799 [prehensile-tailed porcupine]
+
Coendou laenatus Thomas 1903
Coendou magnus Lund 1839
Coendou prehensilis Linnaeus 1758
Invalid names: Echinoprocta Gray 1865 [synonym], Sphiggurus Cuvier 1825 [synonym]
G. †Eopululo Frailey and Campbell, Jr 2004
+
Eopululo wigmorei Frailey and Campbell, Jr 2004
G. Erethizon Cuvier 1822 [North American porcupine]
+
Erethizon bathygnathum Wilson 1935
+
Invalid names: Coendou stirtoni White 1968 [synonym]
Erethizon cascoensis White 1970
Erethizon dorsatum Linnaeus 1758 [North American porcupine]
+
Invalid names: Coendou cumberlandicus White 1970 [synonym], Erethizon cloacinum Cope 1871 [synonym], Erethizon godfreyi Allen 1904 [synonym]
Erethizon kleini Frazier 1981
Erethizon poyeri Hulbert, Jr. 1997
G. †Hyposteiromys Patterson 1958
G. †Hypsosteiromys Patterson 1958
+
Hypsosteiromys axiculus Ameghino 1902
Hypsosteiromys nectus Ameghino 1902
+
Invalid names: Steiromys tabulatus Ameghino 1902 [synonym]
G. †Microsteiromys Walton 1990
+
Microsteiromys jacobsi Walton 1990
G. †Palaeosteiromys Boivin et al. 2017
+
Palaeosteiromys amazonensis Boivin et al. 2017
G. †Paradoxomys Ameghino 1885
+
Paradoxomys cancrivorus Ameghino 1885
Paradoxomys patagonicus Ameghino 1889
G. †Parasteiromys Ameghino 1904
+
Parasteiromys friantae Candela 1999
Parasteiromys uniformis Ameghino 1904
G. †Protosteiromys Wood and Patterson 1959
+
Protosteiromys asmodeophilus Wood and Patterson 1959
Protosteiromys medianus Ameghino 1903
Protosteiromys pattersoni Pérez et al. 2018
Invalid names: Erethizontinae Thomas 1897 [empty]
G. †Kichkasteiromys Boivin et al. 2018
+
Kichkasteiromys raimondii Boivin et al. 2018
G. †Nuyuyomys Boivin et al. 2021
+
Nuyuyomys chinqaska Boivin et al. 2021
G. †Plesiosteiromys Boivin et al. 2017
+
Plesiosteiromys newelli Boivin et al. 2017
G. †Shapajamys Boivin et al. 2018
+
Shapajamys labocensis Boivin et al. 2018
Shapajamys minor Arnal et al. 2022
G. †Steiromys Ameghino 1887
+
Steiromys detentus Ameghino 1887
Steiromys duplicatus Ameghino 1887
Steiromys intermedius Scott 1905
Steiromys principalis Ameghino 1901
Steiromys pseudonectus Bordas 1939
Steiromys segregatus Ameghino 1902
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Maximum body mass: 4 kgg
Minimum body mass: 200 gs
Environment: terrestrialsubc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: ground dwellingo
Diet: herbivoreo
Reproduction: viviparoussubc
Created: 2005-08-26 14:04:46
Modified: 2005-08-26 16:04:46
Source: s = species, g = genus, o = order, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Ji et al. 2002, Lillegraven 1979, Carroll 1988, Nowak 1999, Hendy et al. 2009, Walton 1997

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Deseadan to the top of the Holocene or 29.00000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 28.4 Ma

Collections (146 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Early/Lower Oligocene33.9 - 28.4Colombia (Putumayo) Eosteiromys sp. (145350)
Early/Lower Oligocene33.9 - 28.4Peru Shapajamys labocensis (199559)
Rupelian33.9 - 28.1Peru (Departamento de Ucayali) Eopululo wigmorei, Shapajamys minor (149523)
Rupelian - Chattian33.9 - 23.03Peru Kichkasteiromys raimondii (199562)
Deseadan29.0 - 21.0Argentina (Chubut) Eosteiromys medianus, Protosteiromys medianus, Protosteiromys asmodeophilus (14211)
Deseadan29.0 - 21.0Bolivia (La Paz) Cholamys tetralophodonta (194513) Protosteiromys pattersoni (133596)
Deseadan29.0 - 21.0Argentina (Santa Cruz) Protosteiromys asmeodeophilus, Eosteiromys medianus, Protosteiromys medianus (50074)
Late/Upper Oligocene28.4 - 23.03Peru (Loreto) Erethizontidae n. sp. 2 (176130) Erethizontoidea indet., Erethizontidae n. sp. 2 (176147)
Colhuehuapian21.0 - 17.5Argentina (Neuquén) Eosteiromys n. sp. (89027) Eosteiromys sp. (89030)
Colhuehuapian21.0 - 17.5Argentina (Chubut) Eosteiromys n. sp., Eosteiromys homogenidens, Hypsosteiromys axiculus (145897) Eosteiromys sp. (197191) Eosteiromys sp., Eosteiromys homogenidens, Eosteiromys segregatus (27311) Eosteiromys sp., Hypsosteiromys sp., Eosteiromys homogenidens, Branisamyopsis australis, Steiromys nectus, Steiromys axiculus, Steiromys tabulatus, Parasteiromys uniformis, Eosteiromys segregatus, Parasteiromys friantae (141368)
Burdigalian20.44 - 15.97Argentina (Chubut) Eosteiromys sp. (176205)
Burdigalian20.44 - 15.97Argentina (Santa Cruz) Eosteiromys annectens, Branisamyopsis praesigmoides (59325 59326) Eosteiromys annectens, Steiromys duplicatus, Branisamyopsis praesigmoides (59320) Eosteiromys annectens, Steiromys duplicatus, Steiromys principalis, Branisamyopsis praesigmoides (59133 59322) Eosteiromys homogenidens, Eosteiromys annectens, Steiromys principalis, Branisamyopsis praesigmoides (59319 59321) Eosteiromys homogenidens, Steiromys duplicatus, Steiromys principalis, Branisamyopsis praesigmoides (59323)
Burdigalian20.44 - 15.97Chile (Aisén) Steiromys sp., Eosteiromys annectens, Steiromys duplicatus (71843)
Burdigalian - Langhian20.44 - 13.82Peru (Cuzco) Microsteiromys sp. (144513)
Burdigalian - Langhian20.44 - 13.82Argentina (Santa Cruz) Steiromys sp. (197691)
Santacrucian17.5 - 16.3Argentina (Santa Cruz) Steiromys detentus (176599 176600 176601 206234) Steiromys detentus, Steiromys duplicatus (142533 176593 176602) Steiromys duplicatus, Branisamyopsis praesigmoides (59324) Steiromys sp. (210637) Steiromys sp., Steiromys detentus, Steiromys duplicatus (210638 210786)
Colloncuran15.5 - 13.8Argentina (Neuquén) Branisamyopsis sp. (141175)
Colloncuran15.5 - 13.8Argentina (Neuquen) Erethizontidae indet. (28611)
Serravallian13.82 - 11.62Peru (San Martin) Erethizontoidea indet., Nuyuyomys chinqaska (230802)
Laventan13.8 - 11.0Colombia (Huila) Microsteiromys jacobsi (141256 141257 142428) Steiromys sp. (136211 194496 195251)
Tortonian11.62 - 7.246Brazil (Acre) Erethizontidae indet. (55602)
Tortonian11.62 - 7.246Peru Steiromys sp. (176133)
Tortonian11.62 - 7.246Brazil (Amazonas) Erethizontidae indet. (67386)
Late/Upper Miocene11.608 - 5.333Brazil (Acre) Erethizontidae indet. (134808 136714)
Late/Upper Miocene11.608 - 5.333Brazil Erethizontidae indet. (57989)
Huayquerian8.0 - 5.0Argentina (Entre Rios) Paradoxomys sp., Paradoxomys cancrivorus (55600)
Huayquerian8.0 - 5.0Bolivia (Chuquisaca) Erethizontidae indet. (68792)
Blancan4.9 - 1.8USA (California) Erethizon cascoensis (19737) Erethizon sp. (20117 20121) Erethizon stirtoni (20115 20118 20120)
Blancan4.9 - 1.8USA (Arizona) Coendou stirtoni (19650)
Blancan4.9 - 1.8USA (Idaho) Erethizon bathygnathum (19913)
Blancan4.9 - 1.8USA (Florida) Erethizon poyeri (203947)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.588Argentina (Jujuy) Erethizon sp. (141896)
Piacenzian3.6 - 2.588Colombia (La Guajira) Erethizontidae sp. (166508)
Late/Upper Pliocene - Early/Lower Pleistocene3.6 - 0.781Venezuela (Monagas) Erethizontidae indet. (144977)
Gelasian2.588 - 1.806USA (Florida) Erethizon kleini (20384)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.588 - 0.781USA (South Carolina) Erethizon bathygnathum (206955)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.588 - 0.781USA (Florida) Erethizon poyeri (98313) Erethizon sp. (19750)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.588 - 0.781Bolivia (Tarija ) Coendou sp., Coendou magnus (70673)
Pleistocene2.588 - 0.0117USA (Maryland) Erethizon dorsatum (126660)
Pleistocene2.588 - 0.0117USA (Tennessee) Erethizon dorsatum (74246)
Pleistocene (glacial)2.588 - 0.0117Brazil (Minas Gerais) Coendou prehensilis, Coendou magnus (140474)
Pleistocene2.588 - 0.0117USA (Florida) Erethizon dorsatum (227368)
Pleistocene2.588 - 0.0117USA (West Virginia) Erethizon dorsatum (124319 124709 125941)
Pleistocene - Holocene2.588 - 0.0USA (West Virginia) Erethizon dorsatum (79660)
Pleistocene - Holocene2.588 - 0.0USA (Texas) Erethizon epixanthum (93258)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (Pennsylvania) Erethizon dorsatum (20354 20479)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (New Mexico) Erethizon sp. (20504 20514)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (Arkansas) Erethizon dorsatum (20290)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3Mexico (Aguascalientes) Erethizon dorsatum (20283)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (West Virginia) Coendou cumberlandicus (20554)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (Maryland) Erethizon sp., Coendou cumberlandicus (20302)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (Colorado) Erethizon sp. (20477 20559)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (Florida) Erethizon dorsatum (20145 20289 20350 20351)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (Nebraska) Erethizon sp. (20138)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (California) Coendou sp. (20187) Erethizon cascoensis (20319) Erethizon sp. (20126 28221)
Irvingtonian - Rancholabrean1.8 - 0.012USA (Florida) Erethizon kleini (20419)
Lujanian0.781 - 0.012Uruguay Coendou magnus (71274 71325)
Lujanian0.781 - 0.012Argentina (Sante Fé) Coendou magnus (189512)
Rancholabrean0.3 - 0.012USA (South Carolina) Erethizon dorsatum (79757)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (high glacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Nebraska) Erethizon dorsatum (93179)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (glacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Florida) Erethizon dorsatum (154771)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (New Mexico) Erethizon dorsatum (93141)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117Bolivia (Tarija) Coendou sp. (142158)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (high glacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (New Mexico) Erethizon dorsatum (76059)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (interglacial)0.129 - 0.0117Canada (Alberta) Erethizon dorsatum (20615)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117Mexico (Nuevo Leon) Erethizon dorsatum (71345)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (Texas) Erethizon dorsatum (74473)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (Virginia) Erethizon dorsatum (82258 103991 104697 104758)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (West Virginia) Erethizon dorsatum (93332 123868 124198 124199)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (interglacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Idaho) Erethizon dorsatum (20569)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (interglacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Utah) Erethizon dorsatum (20641)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (late glacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Ohio) Erethizon dorsatum (93334)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117Brazil (Piauí) Coendou magnus (211632)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (California) Erethizon epixanthus (74235 93250)
Late/Upper Pleistocene - Holocene0.129 - 0.0Brazil (Bahia) Coendou prehensilis (71313) Coendou sp. (212472)
Late/Upper Pleistocene - Holocene0.129 - 0.0USA (Missouri) Erethizon dorsatum (63565 63571)
Late/Upper Pleistocene - Holocene0.129 - 0.0USA (Virginia) Erethizon dorsatum (104044 104672)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Canada (Quebec) Erethizon dorsatum (221970 224189)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Peru Coendou prehensilis (21689)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Brazil (Pará) Coendou prehensilis (211490)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0USA (Ohio) Erethizon dorsatum (195062 195069)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0USA (New Mexico) Erethizon sp. (93375)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Venezuela (Guarico) Coendou prehensilis (21686)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Canada (Ontario) Erethizon dorsatum (221863)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Brazil (Districto Agropecura) Coendou prehensilis (21687)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Panama Coendou rothschildi (21691)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0USA (Alaska) Erethizon dorsatum (220460)