The Family Hystricidae consists of Old World porcupines, large rodents covered with spiny quills that serve as a primary defense against predators. They are mostly nocturnal and terrestrial, feeding on a diet of roots, tubers, bark, fruits, and vegetation. Found across Africa, southern Europe, and Asia, hystricids are generally solitary or live in small family groups. Despite their heavy, slow-moving appearance, they are capable of strong digging and climbing. Their ecological role includes seed dispersal and vegetation control, and they are of cultural and economic significance in some regions due to hunting and traditional uses.