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The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata L., 1758) is the largest rodent among the Italian fauna. It is nocturnal, monogamous, herbivorous and lives in burrows that could be self made as well as made by other mammals such as fox (Vulpes vulpes) and badger (Meles meles). It exhibits moonlight avoidance and male performs parental care. In Europe, distribution of the species is limited to Italy, although the presence of porcupine in Balkans is still debated.

Outside Europe crested porcupine distribution includes parts of northwestern Africa from Morocco to Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa from Gambia to Tanzania.


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