Hystrix indica
Silhouette: PhyloPic
In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%
The Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) is a hystricomorph rodent species in the Old World porcupine family, Hystricidae. It is native to West Asia and South Asia and listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The Indian crested porcupine is a large rodent, weighing 11–18 kg (24–40 lb). The body from nose to base of the tail measures between 70 and 90 cm (28 and 35 in), with the tail adding an additional 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in).
It is covered in multiple layers of modified hair called quills, with longer, thinner quills covering a layer of shorter, thicker ones. The quills are brown or black with alternating white and black bands. They are made of keratin and are relatively flexible. Each quill is connected to a muscle at its base, allowing the porcupine to raise its quills when it feels threatened. The longest quills are located on the neck and shoulder, where the quills form a "skirt" around the animal. These quills can grow up to 51 cm (20 in) long, with most measuring between 15 and 30 cm (5.9 and 11.8 in). Smaller and more rigid quills with a length of about 20 cm (7.9 in) are packed densely on the back and rump, which are used to stab at potential threats... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Periyar National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 2 | Keoladeo National Park | 🇮🇳 India |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report an Indian Crested Porcupine sighting in Periyar National Park on a given day, based on 12 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 8th most-seen of the 14 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March and April
In those months about 60% of wildlife watchers report an Indian Crested Porcupine in Periyar National Park on a given day, against about 10% in July, September and November, the lowest months. Those are among Periyar National Park's driest months, with about 80 mm of rain a month against 410 mm in August.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Indian Crested Porcupine sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Indian Crested Porcupine sightings, Periyar National Park has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Keoladeo National Park (India, about 30%).
Same order: Rodentia
The closest relatives of the Indian Crested Porcupine that you can see in Periyar National Park (order Rodentia, Rodents) are Indian Giant Squirrel (about 70%) and Jungle Palm Squirrel (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Indian Crested Porcupine is recorded against all the mammals logged in Periyar National Park (12 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
