The Zoochat Photographic Guide to Rodents: part one

Suborder HISTRICOMORPHA


Hystricomorpha is the third largest of the five rodent Suborders. With around 300 species it is trailing just behind Sciuromorpha's c.320 species. However both fall well below the largest Suborder, Myomorpha (mice and rats), which has around 1500 species.

The Suborder can be divided broadly in two groups, from the Old World and New World respectively. The latter have at times been separated entirely as their own Suborder, Caviomorpha.


The families are listed below:

Old World:
Family Diatomyidae / Laonastidae - Laotian Rock Rat (1 sp)
Family Ctenodactylidae - Gundis (5 spp)
Family Bathyergidae - Blesmols or African Mole Rats (c.25 spp)
Family Hystricidae - Old World Porcupines (11 spp)
Family Petromuridae - Dassie Rat (1 sp)
Family Thryonomyidae - Cane Rats (2 spp)

New World:
Family Erethizontidae - New World Porcupines (c.17 spp)
Family Chinchillidae - Chinchillas and Viscachas (7 spp)
Family Dinomyidae - Pacarana (1 sp)
Family Caviidae - Cavies (c.20 spp)
Family Dasyproctidae - Agoutis (c.13 spp)
Family Cuniculidae - Pacas (2 spp)
Family Ctenomyidae - Tuco-tucos (c.65 spp)
Family Octodontidae - Octodonts (14 spp)
Family Abrocomidae - Chinchilla Rats (c.10 spp)
Family Echimyidae - New World Spiny Rats (c.90 spp)
Family Myocastoridae - Coypu (1 sp)
Family Capromyidae - Hutias (c.13 spp)



In total there are eighteen families in Histricomorpha, collectively containing about 300 species in 72 genera. Of those, there are only 67-70 species from 31 genera depicted here, although collectively they represent fifteen of the eighteen families.



Family Diatomyidae / Laonastidae - Laotian Rock Rat

One species, in the genus Laonastes

Not represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Ctenodactylidae - gundis

Five species in four genera: Ctenodactylus, Felovia, Massoutiera, Pectinator

Only one species is represented in the Zoochat galleries, from the genus Ctenodactylus.


Family Bathyergidae - blesmols or African mole rats

About twenty-five species in six genera: Bathyergus, Cryptomys, Fukomys, Georychus, Heliophobius, Heterocephalus

Seven species from three genera (Fukomys, Heliophobius, Heterocephalus) are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Hystricidae - Old World porcupines

Eleven species in three genera: Atherurus, Hystrix, Trichys

Ten species from two genera (Atherurus and Hystrix) are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Petromuridae - Dassie Rat

One species, in the genus Petromus

Represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Thryonomyidae - cane rats

Two species in a single genus: Thryonomys

Neither species is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Erethizontidae - New World porcupines

About seventeen species in three genera: Chaetomys, Coendou, Erethizon

Eleven species, representing all three genera, are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Chinchillidae - chinchillas and viscachas

Seven species in three genera: Chinchilla, Lagidium, Lagostomus

Four species, covering all three genera, are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Dinomyidae - Pacarana

One species, in the genus Dinomys

Represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Caviidae - cavies

About twenty species in six genera: Cavia, Dolichotis, Galea, Hydrochoerus, Kerodon, Microcavia

Eleven (perhaps twelve) species, covering all six genera, are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Dasyproctidae - agoutis

About thirteen species in two genera: Dasyprocya and Myoprocta

Eight or nine species, representing both genera, are depicted in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Cuniculidae - pacas

Two species in a single genus, Cuniculus

Both species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Ctenomyidae - tuco-tucos

About sixty-five species in a single genus, Ctenomys

Only three species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Octodontidae - octodonts

Fourteen species in eight genera: Aconaemys, Octodon, Octodontomys, Octomys, Pipanacoctomys, Spalacopus, Tympanoctomys. A ninth genus, Salinoctomys, is now combined in Tympanoctomys.

Only two species, from two genera (Octodon and Spalacopus), are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Abrocomidae - chinchilla rats

About ten species in two genera: Abrocoma, Cuscomys

There are no species depicted in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Echimyidae - New World spiny rats

About ninety species in twenty-one genera: Callistomys, Carterodon, Clyomys, Dactylomys, Diplomys, Echimys, Euryzygomatomys, Hoplomys, Isothrix, Kannabateomys, Lonchothrix, Makalata, Mesomys, Olallamys, Pattonomys, Phyllomys, Proechimys, Santamartamys, Thrichomys, Trinomys, Toromys

Only three species from three genera (Hoplomys, Isothrix, Proechimys) are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Myocastoridae - Coypu or Nutria

One species, in the genus Myocastor

Represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Family Capromyidae - hutias

About thirteen extant species in five genera: Capromys, Geocapromys, Mesocapromys, Mysateles, Plagiodonta

Only two species from two genera (Capromys, Plagiodonta) are pictured in the Zoochat galleries.

 

DIATOMYIDAE / LAONASTIDAE
Laotian Rock Rat or Kha-nyou

One species, in the genus Laonastes



Laotian Rock Rat Laonastes aenigmamus
Monotypic


Originally discovered in 1996 and described in 2005. The species was placed in its own family, Laonastidae, but in 2006 was moved to the family Diatomyidae which is otherwise known only from fossil species, the most recent of which was from the late Miocene (about eleven million years ago).


There are no photos of this species in the Zoochat galleries.

 

CTENODACTYLIDAE
Gundis

Five species in four genera: Ctenodactylus, Felovia, Massoutiera, Pectinator

Only one species is represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Because of the low number of species in the family, I have just included them all in a single post.



Common Gundi Ctenodactylus gundi
Monotypic


Photo by @Nick@Amsterdam at Artis Zoo, Netherlands


Common Gundi (Ctenodactylus gundi) | ZooChat



Val's Gundi Ctenodactylus vali
Monotypic


Felou Gundi Felovia vae
Monotypic


Mzab Gundi Massoutiera mzabi
Monotypic


Speke's Pectinator or Speke's Gundi Pectinator spekei
Monotypic

 

BATHYERGIDAE
Blesmols or African Mole Rats

About twenty-five species (although probably many more) in six genera: Bathyergus, Cryptomys, Fukomys, Georychus, Heliophobius, Heterocephalus

The Naked Mole Rat Heterocephalus glaber has generally been placed in its own subfamily, Heterocephalinae, based on genetic and anatomical differences from the other genera (usually all placed together in a subfamily Bathyerginae). In 2014 the former was elevated to a full family (Heterocephalidae) due to these anatomical differences, which the authors argued were enough to distance the genus from Bathyergidae. This has been taken up by the HBW, but here I have retained them in Bathyergidae.
The paper is here: newly recognized family from the Horn of Africa, the Heterocephalidae (Rodentia: Ctenohystrica)


All species may be called blesmol, mole-rat, or mole rat. Here I have used mole rat (without the hyphen) for all species.


Seven species from three genera (Fukomys, Heliophobius, Heterocephalus) are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

 

Bathyergus
Two species, neither of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Namaqua Dune Mole Rat Bathyergus janetta
Monotypic


Cape Dune Mole Rat Bathyergus suillus
Monotypic


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Cryptomys
Five species currently recognised, although there are probably more unrecognised.


Taxonomic note: in 2004 this genus was determined to be composed of two distinct species groups, the "hottentottus group" and the "mechowi group", and thus there was a split into two genera, Cryptomys and Coetomys respectively. However this latter name was unavailable (as a junior synonym of Cryptomys) and in 2006 it was replaced with Fukomys. The members of the genus are morphologically similar and there are wide opinions on how many species should be recognised. I have not made any note on subspecies for this genus due to the confusion of taxonomic issues.


None of the species in Cryptomys are represented here.


Strange Mole Rat Cryptomys anomalus

Silky Mole Rat Cryptomys holosericeus

Common Mole Rat Cryptomys hottentotus

Natal Mole Rat Cryptomys natalensis

Matabeleland Mole Rat Cryptomys nimrodi

 

Fukomys
Fifteen species currently recognised, although there are probably a lot more unrecognised. Various of the species listed below were formerly treated as subspecies.


Taxonomic note: this genus was formerly a part of Cryptomys; it was split over a decade ago but even so many sources still refer the species to the previous genus. See the Taxonomic Note for Cryptomys above.

I have not made any note on subspecies for this genus due to the confusion of taxonomic issues.


Five species are represented in the Zoochat galleries.



Ansell's Mole Rat Fukomys anselli

Photo by @Jakub of a captive animal at the University of South Bohemia (Czech Republic)


https://www.zoochat.com/community/m...versity-of-south-bohemia-oktober-2023.690528/


Damaraland Mole Rat Fukomys damarensis

Photo by @RatioTile at Bronx Zoo, USA


Damaraland Mole-Rat (Fukomys damarensis) - ZooChat


Mashona Mole Rat Fukomys darlingi

Photo by @Jakub of a captive animal at the University of South Bohemia (Czech Republic)


https://www.zoochat.com/community/m...versity-of-south-bohemia-oktober-2023.690525/


Mechow's Mole Rat Fukomys mechowi
(There is disagreement over the spelling of mechowi versus mechowii).

Photo by @Giant Eland at Peoria Zoo, USA


2013: Peoria Zoo | ZooChat

Photo by @Giant Eland at Peoria Zoo, USA, showing the tooth formation


2013: Peoria Zoo | ZooChat


Kataba Mole Rat Fukomys micklemi

Photo by @Jakub of a captive animal at the University of South Bohemia (Czech Republic)


https://www.zoochat.com/community/m...versity-of-south-bohemia-oktober-2023.690526/



None of the remaining species are depicted here (and note that there is much disagreement over species in this genus):


Zambian Mole Rat Fukomys amatus
(There are photos in the gallery for Peoria Zoo, USA, labelled as being this species - including one of the zoo's cage-label specifically using this scientific name - but I think this is [the zoo's] error for Mechow's Mole Rat Fukomys mechowi which is also known as Zambian Mole Rat)

Bocage's Mole Rat Fukomys bocagei

Nigerian Mole Rat Fukomys foxi

Somali Mole Rat Fukomys ilariae

Kafue Mole Rat Fukomys kafuensis

Kigogo Mole Rat Fukomys occlusus

Ochre Mole Rat Fukomys ochraceocinereus

Zambia Mole Rat Fukomys vandewoestijnea

Malawi Mole Rat Fukomys whytei

Ghana Mole Rat Fukomys zechi

 

Georychus
One species, not represented in the Zoochat galleries.


Cape Mole Rat Georychus capensis
Monotypic


...........................................................................


Heliophobius
One species currently recognised, although possibly a species complex.


Silvery Mole Rat Heliophobius argenteocinereus
Nine subspecies: albifrons, argenteocinereus, angonicus, emini, kapiti, marungensis, mottoulei, robustus, spalax


Photo by @Giant Eland at Plzen Zoo, Czech Republic (unknown subspecies)


silvery mole-rat, silvery blesmol, or silky mole-rat (Heliophobius argenteocinereus) 2010 | ZooChat


Photo by @Giant Eland at Plzen Zoo, Czech Republic (unknown subspecies)


silvery mole-rat, silvery blesmol, or silky mole-rat (Heliophobius argenteocinereus) 2010 | ZooChat


...........................................................................


Heterocephalus
One species


Naked Mole Rat Heterocephalus glaber
Monotypic


Photo by @Anteaterman at Oregon Zoo, USA


Africa - Naked Mole Rats | ZooChat


Photo by @ro6ca66 at Cotswold Wildlife Park, UK


Naked mole-rat : Cotswold WP : 25 Oct 2014 | ZooChat

 

HYSTRICIDAE
Old World Porcupines

Eleven species in three genera: Atherurus, Hystrix, Trichys


Ten species from two genera (Atherurus and Hystrix) are represented in the Zoochat galleries.

 

Atherurus
Two species, both of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries.


African Brush-tailed Porcupine Atherurus africanus
Monotypic, although subspecies have been used in the past (armatus, centralis, turneri)


Photo by @MagpieGoose at Berlin Zoo, Germany


African Brush-tailed Porcupine | ZooChat



Asiatic Brush-tailed Porcupine Atherurus macrourus
Probably monotypic. Multiple subspecies/species have been named, often from islands (e.g. hainanus, pemangilis, terutaus, tionis, zygomatica) or from zoo/museum specimens of unknown provenance (retardatus). Other named subspecies include angustiramus from west Thailand, assamensis from Assam, and stevensi from Tonkin. None are clearly differentiated from one another. The type-locality for the species was Malacca (Peninsular Malaysia).


Photo by @Hix at Zoo Negara, Peninsular Malaysia


Brush-tailed Porcupine | ZooChat

 

Hystrix
Eight species, all of which are represented in the Zoochat galleries. Two species (crassispinis and sumatrae) have been alternatively placed in a separate genus, Thecurus.



South African Crested (or Cape) Porcupine Hystrix africaeaustralis
Possibly monotypic, although the subspecies prittwitzi and zuluensis have been recognised.


Photo by @KevinB at Planckendael, Belgium


https://www.zoochat.com/community/m...e-hystrix-africaeaustralis-2019-05-31.446175/


Photo by @vogelcommando at Zoo de Maubeuge, France (showing the white strip of short spines on the rump, which is the main distinguishing feature between H. africaeaustralis and H. cristata)


https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/african-crested-porcupine-backside.233305/


Malayan or Himalayan Porcupine Hystrix brachyura
At least five subspecies: bengalensis, brachyura, hodgsoni, subcristata, yunnanensis

Taxonomic note: sometimes treated as two species, Hystrix hodgsoni over most of the range and Hystrix brachyura from the Thai peninsula southwards.


Photo by @Chlidonias in the wild, Thailand (subspecies brachyura)


Malayan Crested Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) | ZooChat


Photo by @Deer Forest2 at Beijing Zoo, China (subspecies subcristata)


Chinese porcupine (Hystrix hodgsoni subcristata) | ZooChat


Thick-spined Porcupine Hystrix crassispinis
Monotypic. May also be placed in the genus Thecurus.


Photo by @Chlidonias at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, Sabah (Malaysian Borneo)


Thick-spined Porcupines (Thecurus crassispinis) | ZooChat


North African Crested Porcupine Hystrix cristata
Monotypic


Photo by @devilfish at Alexandria Zoo, Egypt (note the black rump, without the white stripe of H. africaeaustralis)


https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/crested-porcupine-october-2015.308619/


Indian Porcupine Hystrix indica
Monotypic, although the subspecies leucurus has commonly been separated


Photo by @nikola at Zoo Wroclaw, Poland


Hystrix indica | ZooChat


Photo by @TeaLovingDave at Magdeburg Zoo, Germany (showing display)


Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica) at Zoologischer Garten Magdeburg | ZooChat


Sunda Porcupine Hystrix javanica
Monotypic


Photo by @Giant Eland at Batu Secret Zoo, Indonesia


Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica) | ZooChat


Philippine or Palawan Porcupine Hystrix pumila
Monotypic


Photo by @ThylacineAlive at Prague Zoo, Czech Republic


Palawan Porcupine | ZooChat


Sumatran Porcupine Hystrix sumatrae
Monotypic. May also be placed in the genus Thecurus.


Photo by @Giant Eland at Taman Safari Bogor, Indonesia (the animal at the back - the one in the foreground is a Malayan Crested Porcupine Hystrix brachyura)


Sumatran porcupine (Hystrix sumatrae) 2018 | ZooChat

 

Trichys
One species


Long-tailed Porcupine Trichys fasciculata
Treated as monotypic by Wilson and Reeder's Mammal Species of the World. I can't actually find any information otherwise on subspecies, except for the Bornean lipura which was originally named as a distinct species.


There are no photos of this species in the Zoochat galleries.

 

PETROMURIDAE
Dassie Rat

One species, in the genus Petromus



Dassie Rat Petromus typicus
Fifteen subspecies: ausensis, barbiensis, cinnamomeus, coetzeei, cunealis, greeni, guinasensis, karasensis, kobosensis, majoriae, namaquensis, pallidior, tropicalis, typicus, windhoekensis


Photo by @Maguari at Berlin Tierpark, Germany (unknown subspecies)


Dassie Rat at Tierpark Berlin, 06/06/2003 | ZooChat

 

THRYONOMYIDAE
Cane Rats

Two species in a single genus: Thryonomys


Neither species is represented in the Zoochat galleries.



Lesser Cane Rat Thryonomys gregorianus
Monotypic, although the subspecies sclateri has been recognised in the past.


Greater Cane Rat Thryonomys swinderianus
Monotypic, although the subspecies raptorum has been recognised in the past.

 

ERETHIZONTIDAE
New World Porcupines

About seventeen species in three genera: Chaetomys, Coendou, Erethizon.

Two further genera (Echinoprocta and Sphiggurus) may be split from Coendou.


Eleven species from all three genera are represented in the Zoochat galleries, although one of them is only depicted as a museum specimen.

 

Chaetomys
One species


Bristle-spined or Thin-spined Porcupine Chaetomys subspinosus
Monotypic


Taxonomic note: there is debate as to whether this species belongs in Erethizontidae (New World Porcupines) or in Echymidae (New World Spiny Rats). Hence an alternative name for this species is Bristle-spined Rat. Patton et al in Mammals of South America calls it the Broomstraw-spined Porcupine.


Photo by @Therabu in the wild, Brazil


Bristle-spined rat (Chaetomys subspinosus) - ZooChat

 

Coendou
About fifteen species currently recognised. There is a certain amount of dispute over whether certain taxa are species/subspecies/synonyms.

There are nine species represented in the Zoochat galleries, with one of them only depicted as a museum specimen.


Taxonomic note: this genus may also be split into three (Coendou, Echinoprocta, Sphiggurus), all of which have representatives depicted in this post. In this case the Stump-tailed Porcupine Coendou rufescens would be placed in Echinoprocta (as a monotypic genus); the genus Sphiggurus would contain the species ichillus, insidiosus, melanurus, mexicanus (including laenatus), pruinosus, roosmalenorum, spinosus (including villosus), and vestitus; and the genus Coendou would contain the species baturitensis, bicolor, nycthemera, prehensilis (including sanctamartae), quichua (including rothschildi), and speratus.



Bicoloured-spined Porcupine Coendou bicolor
Two subspecies: bicolor, simonsi. Formerly also quichua (now split as a full species) and richardsoni (synonymised with quichua).


Photo by @Vision in the wild, Peru (subspecies bicolor)


Bicolor-spined porcupine, Coendou bicolor - ZooChat


Bahia Porcupine Coendou insidiosus
Monotypic


Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Brazil


Bahia porcupine (Coendou insidiosus) - ZooChat


Black-tailed Hairy Dwarf Porcupine Coendou melanurus
Monotypic


Photo by @Dyl0526 at Animal Adventures Family Zoo, USA


Black-Tailed Hairy Dwarf Porcupine (Coendou melanurus) - ZooChat


Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine Coendou mexicanus
Three subspecies: laenatus, mexicanus, yucataniae. The first-named here (laenatus) may be split as a full species.


Photo by @Najade in the wild, Costa Rica (subspecies laenatus)


Mexican Porcupine (Coendou mexicanus) - ZooChat


Photo by @Neil chace at Belize Zoo, Belize (subspecies yucataniae)


Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine - ZooChat


Brazilian Porcupine Coendou prehensilis
Commonly treated as monotypic, but possibly a species-complex. The Santa Marta Porcupine Coendou sanctamartae is now usually included within this species.


Photo by @Great Argus at Oregon Zoo, USA


Prehensile-tailed Porcupine | ZooChat


Frosted Hairy Dwarf Porcupine Coendou pruinosus
Monotypic


Photo by @amur leopard at the Horniman Museum (UK) (taxidermy specimen)


Frosted hairy tree porcupine - ZooChat


Andean Porcupine Coendou quichua
Monotypic. Formerly treated as a subspecies of Coendou bicolor. The Rothschild's Porcupine Coendou rothschildi is now treated as a synonym of Coendou quichua.


Photo by @Giant Eland in the wild, Panama


Andean porcupine (Coendou quichua) - ZooChat


Stump-tailed Porcupine Coendou rufescens
Monotypic


Both photos by @Giant Eland in the wild, Ecuador


stump-tailed porcupine (Coendou rufescens) - ZooChat


stump-tailed porcupine (Coendou rufescens) - ZooChat


Paraguayan Hairy Dwarf Porcupine Coendou spinosus
Monotypic. The Orange-spined Hairy Dwarf Porcupine Coendou villosus is now included within this species.


Photo by @Juancho at Bioparque M'Bopicua, Uruguay (typical spinosus)


Prehensile-tailed Tree Porcupine (Sphiggurus spinosus) | ZooChat


Photo by @Giant Eland at Sao Paulo Zoo, Brazil (the Orange-spined Hairy Dwarf Porcupine Coendou villosus)


IMG_46302 | ZooChat



The remaining species in this genus are not represented in the Zoochat galleries:


Baturite Porcupine Coendou baturitensis
Monotypic

Streaked Dwarf Porcupine Coendou ichillus
Monotypic

Black Dwarf Porcupine Coendou nycthemera
Monotypic

Roosmalen's Dwarf Porcupine Coendou roosmalenorum
Monotypic

Pernambuco Dwarf Porcupine Coendou speratus
Monotypic

Brown Hairy Dwarf Porcupine Coendou vestitus
Monotypic

 

Erethizon
One species


North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum
Seven subspecies: bruneri, couesi, dorsatum, epixanthus, myops, nigrescens, picinum

The only photos of wild animals in the galleries are from Alaska (the subspecies myops) so I have used one of those and then a couple of zoo photos.


Photo by @Pleistohorse in the wild, Alaska (USA) (subspecies myops)


North American Porcupine - Alaska (Six Mile Lake) | ZooChat


Photo by @Maguari at Zoo Plzen, Czech Republic (unknown subspecies)


North American Tree Porcupine at Plzen, 25/05/10 | ZooChat


Photo by @mhale at Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park, UK (unknown subspecies)


North American tree porcupines at Galloway Wildlife Conservation Park, 16 M | ZooChat