The Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) is a hystricomorph rodent species native to southern Asia and the Middle East.

[4] The Indian crested porcupine has a stocky build with a low surface area to volume ratio, which aids in heat conservation.

[4] Indian crested porcupines are found throughout southwest and central Asia,[2] including Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Yemen.

[1] Due to their flexible environmental tolerances, Indian crested porcupines occupy a broad range of habitats.

[1] They prefer rocky hillsides,[2] but are also common in tropical and temperate shrublands, grasslands, forests, plantations, and gardens.

[2] They consume a variety of natural and agricultural plant material, including roots, bulbs, fruits, grains, drupe and tubers, along with insects and small vertebrates.

[19] However, during summer months they do not avoid moonlight (likely because there are less dark hours during which to forage), but instead tend to stay closer to their dens.

[4] Predators of the Indian crested porcupine include large cats,[22][23] caracals, wolves, striped hyenas, Asian wild dogs, Saltwater crocodiles[24] and humans.

[4] It can also rattle the hollow quills at the base of its tail, stomp its feet, growl, grunt, or charge backward into the threat.

[3] Young are born with open eyes and are covered in short, soft quills that harden within a few hours after birth.

[2] Young are fully weaned 13–19 weeks after birth, but remain in the den with parents and siblings until sexual maturity around 2 years of age.

[25] It has been reported that the Indian crested porcupine is usually monogamous and mates every night throughout its life, not only for reproduction, but also to maintain and strengthen the pair bond, the relationship between the male and female partners.