Sub-Saharan Africa. They inhabit a wide range of habitats, from sea level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), although they are only marginally present in dense forests and the driest of deserts, and are not found in swampland. Porcupines reside in natural shelters near roots and rocks, inside holes made by each other or holes they dig themselves. Although African crested porcupines Hystrix spp. PORTLAND, Ore. – A Cape porcupine, native to Africa, is making its temporary home at the Oregon Zoo after living on the streets of Spanaway, Wash. for a year and a half. Indian crested porc... Long-tailed Porcupi... Malayan porcupine. Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) The Cape porcupine grows up to a meter long and 20kg in weight. The African Crested porcupine has a black body and black hair. When attacked, the porcupine freezes. They have a long small intestine and large caecum, employing hindgut fermentation to break down the tough materials in their food. (eds. Size. Hystrix africaeaustralis . and are about 30” in length, and have very poor vision. Wild Wednesday: African Cape Porcupine. The reverse charge is most effective because the hindquarters are the most heavily armed, and the quills are directed to the rear. Our newest arrivals are a pair of Cape Porcupine making their home on the south side of Kopje Rock, beside our Meerkats: Koija Starbeds sets aside land for wildlife while, at the same time, creating jobs and income for the local community. Otherwise, the porcupine may retreat into its burrow, exposing only its quills and making it hard to dislodge. The Cape Porcupine is the largest species of porcupine in the world growing up to 90cm long. [5], The eyes and ears are relatively small, and the mobile whiskers are short. They are often considered pests by local farmers, because they can feed on crops and damage trees. Quill length varies on different parts of the body, ranging from 2.5 to 30.5 centimeters (1 to 12 inches). Both sexes are about 84 cm in length. Porcupine or Cape Porcupine [Hystrix africaeaustralis] Appearance. They are good diggers. They have stock bodies; rounded heads; and stiff quills. The legs are short and sturdy, and each foot has five toes, all equipped with powerful claws. Weight Wild Wednesday: African Cape Porcupine. Donate now. With cape porcupine inclusive all porcupines have lined quills which is significant for their hairs. Rather, they get stuck in whatever touches the porcupine. The body is covered in long spines up to 50 centimetres (20 in) in length, interspersed with thicker, sharply pointed, defence quills up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long, and with bristly, blackish or brownish fur. Both the male and female African Porcupines weigh from 10 to 24 kilograms (22 to 53 pounds) with very large specicimens weighing up … Sexual size monomorphism in the crested porcupine (. Porcupines will stamp their feet, click their teeth, and growl or hiss while vibrating specialized quills that produce a characteristic rattle. Oestrus lasts for an average of nine days, during which a membrane across the vagina opens to allow insemination. “Porcupine” means “quill pig.” Some animals kill and eat porcupines, but the quills are very sharp and pull out easily. Cape porcupines are one of the world’s largest porcupine species. Unlike New World porcupines, Old World porcupines don't climb trees. The black & white quills along the head and back can be raised into a crest, thus the name. ), Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife. The black and white quills along the head and back of this spiny mammal can be raised into a crest, hence its common name of crested porcupine. Porcupines have short bodies and are mostly dark brown and black in colour. [3][4] Cape porcupines measure 63 to 81 centimetres (25 to 32 inches) long from the head to the base of the tail, with the tail adding a further 11–20 centimetres (4.3–7.9 inches). Cape Porcupine, Newfoundland and Labrador, "Aspects of the digestion in the Cape porcupine", "Reproduction in captive female Cape porcupines (. THe porcupine does not shoot its quills out in defence, as it is rumoured to do. Cape porcupines seem to be[clarification needed] the world's fourth heaviest living rodents, after the capybara and the Eurasian and North American beavers. The long-tailed porcupine of the Old World is 27.9-48 cm long and its weight varies from 1.5 to 2.3 kg. Between one and four young are born in the grass-lined burrow. Both species have long, white, stiletto-like quills running the length of their backs that, when raised, make the animals appear at least twice as large as they actually are. They weigh approximately 50 lbs. A "crest" of spiny hair accentuates the very top of her head, awash in a black-to-white gradient. The Cape porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world, alongside the nearly identical African crested porcupine. Kilimanjaro, as high up as 3,500 meters (11,480 feet). New quills will grow in to replace lost ones. They warn potential enemies of their defense system when alarmed. [9] They have also been reported to gnaw on carrion and bones. Learn how we're protecting Africa's species each and every day so we never have to live in a world without elephants, rhinos, and other precious wildlife. Mexican Hairy Dwarf... North American porc... Phillipine Porcupin... POPULAR MAMMALS. If cornered, it turns vicious and charges to stab its attacker with its quills. New quills grow in to replace lost ones. Economics. Porcupines primarily eat roots, tubers, bark, and fallen fruit but also have a fondness for cultivated root crops such as cassava, potatoes, and carrots. In the Laikipia region of Kenya — which has no formal protected areas — we partnered with the Koija community and a private operator to construct the Koija Starbeds Lodge. For the headland in Canada, see, Mori, E.; Lovari, S. (2014). Cape porcupines are the largest rodents in Africa and also the world's largest porcupines. These practices have eliminated them from densely settled areas. ... African porcupine. [1][8] There are no currently recognised subspecies. Usually, the quills lie flat against the body, but if danger threatens, they raise and spread them. Males and females are similar sizes, typically weighing between 18 … Cape porcupines are the largest rodents in southern Africa and also the world's largest porcupines. "Reproductive biology of the male Cape porcupine, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cape_porcupine&oldid=967452516, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from June 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 13 July 2020, at 09:53. Crested Porcupine has somewhat long, coal-colored hair that falls evenly on either side of her head with distinctive, "quill"-like striped locks framing her round face. [15] They are weaned at around 100 days of age,[13] and grow rapidly for the first twenty weeks, reaching the full adult size, and sexual maturity, at the end of their first year. Scales on quill tips lodge in the skin like fishhooks and are difficult to pull out. In the Western Cape, leopards are significantly smaller, females averaging 20 kg, which makes them in many instances smaller than a large male Caracal. Its proportions are not as attractive as its animal itself. The Cape Porcupine is 630 to 810 mm in length (excluding the small tail, which is about 110 to 200mm long). The African cape porcupine is one of the largest members of the rodent family. Rodents are mammals including rats, mice, porcupines, beavers, and more. [2], They are heavily built animals, with stocky bodies, short limbs, and an inconspicuous tail. It has been recorded from sea level to 2,550 m (8,370 ft) in Moroccan Anti-Atlas. African Crested Porcupine - Hystrix cristata The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is a species of rodent in the Hystricidae family. AWF engages local communities to set aside land for wildlife to live undisturbed. Unleash more canine heroes to save elephants. Porcupine quills have long been a favorite ornament and good-luck charm in Africa. The Old World porcupines belong to the infraorder Hystricognathi of the … One of Africa’s 2 largest rodents (the other is the crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata) (Barthelmess 2016b). They are well-developed and are born with open eyes. [12] The size of the home range varies depending on the local habitat and availability of food, but can range between at least 67 and 203 hectares (170 and 500 acres).[5]. In the Mediterranean, it is known from mainland Italy and the island of Sicily, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia; they are also recorded in Ghana, Libya and along the Egyptian coast. These large rodents modify natural shelters among roots and rocks, inhabit holes made by other animals, or dig their own hideaways. Habitat: Highly adaptable, living anywhere vegetation is available.They are more likely to be found in open spaces rather than wooded areas, and they seek out rocky crevices, abandoned burrows and caves for shelter. Porcupines are most common in hilly, rocky country, but they can adapt to most habitats — excessively moist forests and the most barren of deserts seem to be the only exceptions. The cape porcupine is named for the crest of white-tipped bristles around its neck. Some African tribal people use their guard hairs and quills for ceremonial clothing including masks, vests, jewelry, and totems. [5] The average weight of males from Zimbabwe was 16.9 kg (37 lb) and while the average for females there was 18.4 kg (41 lb) while in the Orange river valley of South Africa males averaged 12.3 kg (27 lb) and females averaged 13 kg (29 lb). Discover How Long Cape porcupine Lives. [5], This article is about an African porcupine. ... African crested porcupine makes her TV debut - Duration: 4:04. The spines on the tail are hollow, and used to make a rattling sound to scare away predators. African leopards: iconic big cats survive mounting threats, Building better ranger forces for wildlife conservation, China-Africa Youth Dialogues connect conservation champions. The quills have multiple bands of black and white along their length, and grow from regularly spaced grooves along the animal's body; each groove holding five to eight quills. The North African crested porcupine is the largest. As human populations expand, humans and porcupines find themselves in increasingly close quarters. The young are suckled from six to eight weeks of age and then begin to eat vegetable matter. Human also eat porcupines in some places. In addition to being targeted for their quills, they are illegally hunted for their meat. They have even been found on Mt. The African porcupine is the largest rodent in the regions they inhabit. They are quite playful and, outside the burrow, they run and chase one another.