棘鼠科，学名Echimyidae，哺乳纲啮齿目的一科，分布在中美洲和南美洲，一些种类已经灭绝，与豚鼠和绒鼠的关系较近。

棘鼠科的动物外表类似长有刺的老鼠，一些种类遇到袭击时会自断其尾，但它们的尾巴并不能像蜥蜴那样再生。

大部分棘鼠科动物都是植食性的。

细针豪猪（Chaetomys subspinosus）由于前臼齿的相似性，有时也被归入本科。

The family Echimyidae contains the Neotropical spiny rats and their fossil relatives. This is the most species-rich family of hystricognath rodents. It is probably also the most ecologically diverse, with members ranging from fully arboreal to terrestrial to fossorial habits. They presently exist mainly in South America; three members of the family also range into Central America. Species of the extinct subfamily Heteropsomyinae formerly lived on Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico in the Antilles, probably until the arrival of Europeans. Some authorities consider the nutria from southern and central South America to be a part of this family.