North American Porcupine - Erethizon dorsatum - Illustrated introduction to the species, including its characteristics, range, habitat, diet, life cycle, and behavior. Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) - Description, photo, habits, and distribution in Texas. Porcupine - Wikipedia provides details of the Old World family Hystricidae and the New World family Erethizontidae. North American Porcupine - Photograph and information on this species including its description, behavior and life cycle. Porcupine - Erethizon dorsatum - Photo, description, biological information, and drawings and description of this animal's tracks. African Brush-tailed Porcupine - Wikipedia - Description of Atherurus africanus, which is one of the biggest rodents found on the continent. Family Erethizontidae (New World Porcupines) - Description of this family of rodents, consisting of four genera and twelve species found in the Americas. AWF: Porcupine - Factsheet with photographs, physical characteristics, habitat, behavior, diet, predators and threats.