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

Erethizontidae (porcupine)

Mammalia - Rodentia - Erethizontidae

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1845Erethizontidae Bonaparte
1902Erethizontidae Hay p. 732
1958Erethizontidae Wood p. 172
1959Erethizontidae Wood and Patterson
1980Erethizontidae Kurten and Anderson p. 272
1988Erethizontidae Carroll
1991Erethizontidae Nowak
1997Erethizontidae Hulbert, Jr. p. 624
1999Erethizontidae Nowak
2001Erethizontidae Huchon and Douzery p. 243
2010Erethizontidae Kramarz et al.
2017Erethizontidae 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()
—Mammaliamorpha
RankNameAuthor
—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
familyErethizontidaeBonaparte 1845
familyErethizontidaeBonaparte 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.

Fm. Erethizontidae Bonaparte 1845 [porcupine]
show all | hide all
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]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Maximum body mass: 300 gs
Minimum body mass: 200 gs
Environment: terrestrialsubc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: arborealf
Diet: herbivoref
Reproduction: viviparoussubc
Comments: life habit and diet based on Nowak 1999f
Created: 2005-06-08 10:11:09
Modified: 2005-08-26 13:29:34
Source: s = species, f = family, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Walton 1997, Lillegraven 1979, Carroll 1988, Ji et al. 2002, Nowak 1991

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Late/Upper Oligocene to the top of the Holocene or 28.40000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 28.1 Ma

Collections (119 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Rupelian33.9 - 28.1Peru (Departamento de Ucayali) Eopululo wigmorei (149523)
Deseadan29.0 - 21.0Argentina (Chubut) Eosteiromys medianus, Protosteiromys medianus, Protosteiromys asmodeophilus (14211)
Deseadan29.0 - 21.0Argentina (Santa Cruz) Protosteiromys asmeodeophilus, Eosteiromys medianus, Protosteiromys medianus (50074)
Deseadan29.0 - 21.0Bolivia (La Paz) Cholamys tetralophodonta (194513) Protosteiromys pattersoni (133596)
Late/Upper Oligocene28.4 - 23.03Peru (Loreto) Erethizontidae n. sp. 2 (176130)
Colhuehuapian21.0 - 17.5Argentina (Chubut) Hypsosteiromys axiculus (145897) Hypsosteiromys sp., Branisamyopsis australis, Steiromys nectus, Steiromys axiculus, Steiromys tabulatus, Parasteiromys uniformis, Parasteiromys friantae (141368)
Burdigalian20.44 - 15.97Argentina (Santa Cruz) Branisamyopsis praesigmoides (59133 59319 59320 59321 59322 59323 59325 59326)
Santacrucian17.5 - 16.3Argentina (Santa Cruz) Branisamyopsis praesigmoides (59324)
Colloncuran15.5 - 13.8Argentina (Neuquén) Branisamyopsis sp. (141175)
Colloncuran15.5 - 13.8Argentina (Neuquen) Erethizontidae indet. (28611)
Laventan13.8 - 11.0Colombia (Huila) Microsteiromys jacobsi (141256 141257 142428)
Tortonian11.62 - 7.246Brazil (Acre) Erethizontidae indet. (55602)
Tortonian11.62 - 7.246Brazil (Amazonas) Erethizontidae indet. (67386)
Late/Upper Miocene11.608 - 5.333Brazil Erethizontidae indet. (57989)
Late/Upper Miocene11.608 - 5.333Brazil (Acre) Erethizontidae indet. (134808 136714)
Huayquerian8.0 - 5.0Bolivia (Chuquisaca) Erethizontidae indet. (68792)
Huayquerian8.0 - 5.0Argentina (Entre Rios) Paradoxomys sp., Paradoxomys cancrivorus (55600)
Blancan4.9 - 1.8USA (Arizona) Coendou stirtoni (19650)
Blancan4.9 - 1.8USA (Idaho) Erethizon bathygnathum (19913)
Blancan4.9 - 1.8USA (Florida) Erethizon poyeri (203947)
Blancan4.9 - 1.8USA (California) Erethizon cascoensis (19737) Erethizon sp. (20117 20121) Erethizon stirtoni (20115 20118 20120)
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 - 0.781Bolivia (Tarija ) Coendou sp., Coendou magnus (70673)
Early/Lower Pleistocene2.588 - 0.781USA (Florida) Erethizon poyeri (98313) Erethizon sp. (19750)
Pleistocene2.588 - 0.0117USA (Tennessee) Erethizon dorsatum (74246)
Pleistocene2.588 - 0.0117USA (Maryland) Erethizon dorsatum (126660)
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 (Arkansas) Erethizon dorsatum (20290)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3Mexico (Aguascalientes) Erethizon dorsatum (20283)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (Florida) Erethizon dorsatum (20145 20289 20350 20351)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (New Mexico) Erethizon sp. (20504 20514)
Irvingtonian1.8 - 0.3USA (Nebraska) Erethizon sp. (20138)
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 (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 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 (glacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Florida) Erethizon dorsatum (154771)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (high glacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Nebraska) Erethizon dorsatum (93179)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (interglacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Utah) Erethizon dorsatum (20641)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117Bolivia (Tarija) Coendou sp. (142158)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (interglacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Idaho) Erethizon dorsatum (20569)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (New Mexico) Erethizon dorsatum (93141)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117Mexico (Nuevo Leon) Erethizon dorsatum (71345)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (late glacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Ohio) Erethizon dorsatum (93334)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (Texas) Erethizon dorsatum (74473)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117USA (California) Erethizon epixanthus (74235 93250)
Late/Upper Pleistocene0.129 - 0.0117Brazil (Piauí) Coendou magnus (211632)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (interglacial)0.129 - 0.0117Canada (Alberta) Erethizon dorsatum (20615)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (high glacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (New Mexico) Erethizon dorsatum (76059)
Late/Upper Pleistocene - Holocene0.129 - 0.0USA (Virginia) Erethizon dorsatum (104044 104672)
Late/Upper Pleistocene - Holocene0.129 - 0.0USA (Missouri) Erethizon dorsatum (63565 63571)
Late/Upper Pleistocene - Holocene0.129 - 0.0Brazil (Bahia) Coendou prehensilis (71313) Coendou sp. (212472)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Peru Coendou prehensilis (21689)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0USA (Ohio) Erethizon dorsatum (195062 195069)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0USA (New Mexico) Erethizon sp. (93375)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Canada (Quebec) Erethizon dorsatum (221970 224189)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Venezuela (Guarico) Coendou prehensilis (21686)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Brazil (Districto Agropecura) Coendou prehensilis (21687)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Canada (Ontario) Erethizon dorsatum (221863)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0USA (Alaska) Erethizon dorsatum (220460)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Brazil (Pará) Coendou prehensilis (211490)
Holocene0.0117 - 0.0Panama Coendou rothschildi (21691)