The more common name for this species is the crested porcupine. The word porcupine means ‘quill pig’ in Latin. The quills are used for defense against predators. African Crested Porcupine. African Crested Porcupine. The gestation period of the African crested porcupine is about 112 days. The young are born in a special chamber, located in their burrow system and lined with grass. Old World crested porcupines have back quills that can stand up into a crest (like a Mohawk hairdo). The crested porcupine lives in burrows, and can be found in North and West Africa, and parts of East Africa and the Mediterranean. Its Latin name means “quill pig”, which is the regional American name of the porcupine. Habitat and Distribution. The crested porcupine is found in Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. These guys are very traditional, finding a partner that they stay with for life. This allows for an effective fermentation to break down the tough food materials. Size: 24 – 33 inches length Weight: 22 – 66 lbs Lifespan: 20 years in the wild. The crested porcupine’s scientific name is Hystrix cristata. We're all about safari and celebrating wild Africa. Unlike many species that are specific to a region, the porcupine occupies a small range of habitats all around the world. (1.2 to 35 kilograms), depending on species, and their tails can grow up to 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm), according to the San Diego Zoo.The length of quills varies by type. Your email address will not be published. So, make sure that you keep your eyes peeled the next time you enjoy a Kruger National Park safari. Plumpton Park Zoological Gardens Inc. 1416 Telegraph Road Telegraph Road, Rising Sun MD 21011. info@plumptonparkzoo.org … Aa, this prickly attitude can't be stopped!" Cape porcupines are found in sub-Saharan Africa and are able to inhabit many different types of habitats as long as cover and vegetation are present. The average life expectancy of a wild porcupine is 5 to 6 years, while their captive counterparts have been known to live up to 10 years. It has been recorded from sea level to 2,550 m (8,370 ft) in Moroccan Anti-Atlas. When alarmed, porcupines will … This is mostly due to the nocturnal nature of porcupines. Each quill is marked with black and white bands. And there are many African folklore stories about how the porcupine got their quills in the first place. The specific name, cristatus, comes from Latin and means provided with a comb, relating to its crest of quills. The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) also known as the African crested porcupine, is a species of rodent in the family Hystricidae found in Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. However, porcupines mostly climb trees to forage for food. Posted by Editorial Team | Interests, Safari, Wildlife | 0. The smallest is the Bahia hairy dwarf porcupine. The crested porcupine is a species of rodent in the family Hystricidae and the genus Hystrix. Porcupine Diet African porcupines are largely herbivorous, digging out bulbs, roots and tubers with their strong claws. They are also smaller and more diurnal than their Old World counterparts. African Crested Porcupine African Crested Porcupine Natural History Size. These long, pliable quills act as guard hairs and form a "skirt." The largest porcupine is the crested porcupine, found in North Africa, which grows up to 36 inches long. © 2020 Africa Freak | All Rights Reserved, What sound does a hippo make? But there seems to be a lot of confusion about whether porcupines shoot their quills. African Crested Porcupines are one of the largest rodents in the world – weighing up to a whopping 27kg and measuring almost one metre in length! Turbo's longest quills can … They display their weaponry for all to see. Appearances. The African porcupine is twice the length of the echidna, which measures about 47.5 cm. Because of their prickly … It is covered in multiple layers of modified hair called quills, with … Meet Turbo. . Porcupines are mostly nocturnal, spending their evenings foraging for dinner. Hippo sounds explained, 17 fun & unmissable things to do in Madagascar (Africa’s unique island). 9. Although they have been found at altitudes of 11,480 feet on Mount Kilimanjaro, they are not found in … They spend the h Each quill is marked with black and white bands. Their long claws and excellent balance allow them to grip and scale even the tallest of trees. FUN FACTS. When threatened, a crested porcupine stamps its feet, growls, and grunts to scare off the predator. These are nocturnal animals, so they mostly sleep inside their burrows during the day and forage for food at night. Porcupine or Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) Order Rodentia. During the wintertime, porcupines eat a lot of tree bark, as well. These quills keep the rodent safe from predators and can even prevent a pride of lions from taking a porcupine down (true story!). They are nocturnal and forage alone at night, traveling up to 9 miles in their search for food. Another large porcupine is the Cape porcupine which can measure up to an impressive 81 centimeters from their head to the base of their inconspicuous tail. The North African crested porcupine is the largest. The African crested porcupine is the world’s largest species of porcupine. The African crested porcupine is usually found in rocky, hill country but they are very adaptable animals who make their home in most types of environment, though there are a few exceptions. When threatened, the skirt … Pick from a selection of dream wildlife safaris around Africa and prepare to make memories that will last a lifetime. But, if you get too much closer, just from that, i got embarrassed and become aloof! This is the world’s largest porcupine – and also by far the largest rodent in Africa. Enter your email for your weekly dose of ‘wild Africa’ directly to your inbox. The youngsters stay with their mother for just a few months before they are ready to live on their own. How To Make Two African Crested Porcupines Feel At Home | The Zoo - Duration: 7:05. • African crested porcupines are the largest porcupines in the world and the largest rodent in Africa. Have you ever wondered what a porcupine eats? Words From the Experts . Many kids stores even stock stuffed toys in the character of porcupines. Social Behavior. The largest porcupine is the North African crested porcupine. It mostly eats fruit and tough roots, but has been known to scavenge the remains of dead animals. Your email address will not be published. Animal Planet 117,727 views. Some quills can be up to 51 centimeters (20 inches) long. The crested porcupine is also known as the African crested porcupine. All porcupines (and the Cape porcupine is no exception) have banded quills which are essentially their hairs. In porcupine: Old World porcupines (family Hystricidae) European populations of the African crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) retreat into their dens during storms and cold spells, but they do not hibernate. It can grow up to 90 centimeters long and weigh up to 30 kilograms. In case you haven’t picked it up yet, porcupines are fantastic tree-climbers. If you do, it could mean that they are sick or there’s a danger in their den. 5 Fascinating Facts #1. The collective noun for a mother porcupine and her young is a ‘prickle’. They are nocturnal, and forage alone before returning to … 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. It is still present in mainland Italy, Sicily, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. As nocturnal animals, they do most of their foraging at night. 10. It is still present in mainland Italy, Sicily, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. It eats leaves, herbs, twigs and green plants like clover and in the winter it may eat bark. LEAST CONCERNED. The African porcupine is not a climber and forages on the ground. Appearance Female porcupines are about one kilogram heavier than males, weighing 10-24 kg and males with a mass of 10-19 kg. The name “porcupettes” is as cute as the baby porcupines look. The lifespan of wild Indian crested porcupines is unknown, but the oldest known captive individual was a female that lived to be 27.1 years old. For example, many female monkeys and chimpanzees advertise their sexual readiness. 15 years in the wild; up to 20 years in captivity. Their ability to learn quickly has probably contributed to their lifestyle adaptation which keeps them protected from predators during the day. The adult crested porcupine has an average head and body length of about 60 to 83 cm (24 to 33 in) long, discounting … They’re covered in sharp spikes that make it very difficult for predators to hunt them. Cape Porcupine facts – The Cape porcupine is believed to grow up to about one meter long and it weighs 20 kilograms. The collective noun for a mother porcupine and her young is a ‘prickle’. Some of these plant materials include fruits, roots, tubers, bulbs and bark. Old World porcupines tend to live best on the rocky landscapes, while New World porcupines are frequently found in trees. Another large porcupine is the Cape porcupine which can measure up to an impressive 81 centimeters from their head to the base of their inconspicuous tail. Those on the back may be 40cm long; the shorter, open-ended tail quills will rattle as a warning. Interesting Facts: • Like other rodents, they have a single pair of sharp, continually growing incisor teeth that they use to gnaw and rip tough plant material. Tiny civet escapes from two leopards – Londolozi TV, How to make sugarcane juice – Zanzibar special, Baobab flowers – Africa’s beautifully ephemeral sight, Five Botswana safari moments I’ll never forget [Photo Blog]. The series included illustrations of mythical beasts such as the … These sturdy, sharp quills, which are about 35 centimetres long and marked with alternating light and dark bands, provide highly effective protection against predators. Animals & Exhibits. Farmers use dogs to hunt them or smoke them out of burrows. The underside … Here are some fun facts about the fascinating creatures, and a few answers to some earnest questions.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'africafreak_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_7',146,'0','0'])); Arguably the most identifiable characteristic of the porcupine is their quills. African Crested Porcupine - Hystrix cristata The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is a species of rodent in the Hystricidae family. [3] Almost the entire body is covered with bristles which are either dark brown or black and … In-Game Stats. Although both the New World and the Old World porcupines boast a similar coat of quills, they are two distinct groups and not as closely related as you would imagine. Instead, the quills detach very easily. They were probably brought over from Africa by humans. Yet Latin isn’t the only language misidentifying the porcupine: The French word equivalent to the English porcupine is porc espin or “spined pig”. Porcupines are herbivores, meaning that they only eat plant material. Porcupines do not shoot their quills in the way that you would imagine shooting an arrow. The crest starts from the top of the head and goes down to the shoulders. Porcupines are arboreal, built for climbing trees. Behavior: Cape porcupines are solitary or found in … Contrary to popular myth, a porcupine’s quills will not fire at enemies but rather will loosely embed in their skin and they easily shed on contact. Herbivorous. Mighty punch with a tail … Some quills can be up to 51 centimeters (20 inches) long. There are 29 different species of porcupine found in their native habitats around the world. Fishers are a primary predator of porcupines, but quills have been found embedded in coyotes, pumas, bobcats, foxes, lynx, bears, wolves and even Great Horned Owls. TAXONOMY. Porcupines can be found on rocky areas up to 3,700 meters (12,100 feet) high. New quills quickly replace lost ones. Between one and four young are born in the grass-lined burrow. The crested porcupine is a species of rodent in the family Hystricidae. Family Hystricidae. Fun Facts … Adult African Crested Porcupines can weigh up to 60 pounds, and can grow to 3 feet in length excluding their tail. Previous Post Congo creates new park Next Post Essential Windhoek. The more common name for this species is the crested porcupine. (80.5 cm) long and weighing up to 47 lb. The more common name for this species is the crested porcupine. In fact, “successor” quills start emerging only a few days after the earlier ones come out. Your email address will not be published. Porcupettes are born with quills but, luckily for the mother, these quills are soft and only harden a few hours after birth. While porcupines may be a popular animal to add to your safari-spotting list, you may find the challenge to be a little more difficult than spotting the likes of the African antelope. Essential Windhoek . Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center – Discover for yourself why this award-winning facility has been called one of the most significant zoo exhibits anywhere in the world! Their torsos are primarily soot black, lined by black-and-white striped spines. On these particular arboreal species, quills on the tail are really hard, tough and also points backwards enabling them to stay and climb on the tree branches. It grows up to 36 inches (90 centimeters) long. It can grow up to 90 centimeters long and weigh up to 30 kilograms. "I'm crested Porcupine, not african Porcupine. The crest starts from the top of the head and goes down to the shoulders. The hollow rattle quills serve as musical instruments and were once used as containers for gold dust. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Although porcupines do not hibernate during the winter, they remain in their dens during especially cold or inclement weather. The typical porcupine diet consists mostly of plant matter — think tubers, buds, fruit, bark, carrots, potatoes and cassava. "That came from … African crested porcupines are the largest species of porcupines found in Africa. … Source: Wikipedia Diet: African spurred porcupines are primarily herbivores, or plant-eaters. Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) The Cape porcupine grows up to a meter long and 20kg in weight. The porcupine has quite an interesting heritage. CONSERVATION STATUS. They are less strictly nocturnal than their Old World relatives, and generally smaller. You may not know too much about porcupines, but chances are that you know about the quills that protect their soft bodies. These can stab any potential threat. I want to change this shy personality of mine! After mating, the female usually births two babies and the parents will share the responsibility of caring for the young ones. Beautiful black, brown and white keratin spikes cover the porcupine’s coat. African Crested Porcupine is an herbivore that eats bark, bones of dead animals, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fallen fruits, and cultivated crops. 10 to 30 kilograms (22 to 66 pounds) Size. Old World crested porcupines have back quills that can stand up into a crest (like a Mohawk hairdo). They are nocturnal animals that can travel up to 9 miles (14.5 km) in a night in the wild. 20 Bizarre Hybrid Animal That Actually Exist - Duration: 7:56. There are more than two dozen porcupine species, and all boast a coat of needle-like quills to give predators a sharp reminder that this animal is no easy meal. Habitat: Highly adaptable, living anywhere vegetation is available.They are more likely to be found in open spaces rather than wooded … Some quills, like … The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is a rodent that most people recognize. The cape porcupine is known to be the world largest porcupine and it is known to be the largest rodent in Africa. Interesting Facts: • Like other rodents, they have a single pair of sharp, continually growing incisor teeth that they use to gnaw and rip tough plant material. Most Popular Safaris. The crested porcupine is part of the family Hystricidae. These predators kill a porcupine by biting its unprotected face or by flipping it over to expose the vulnerable underside. African Crested Porcupine is an herbivore that eats bark, bones of dead animals, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fallen fruits, and cultivated crops. Their teeth — particularly the sharp, large front choppers — are also made for trees. The quills of crested porcupines serve as an effective defense against predation. 1. If you’re ever lucky enough to see a porcupine in person, you’ll note how big they can actually be. When threatened, a porcupine … Occasionally, they will gnaw on old carcasses and bones to get calcium and to wear down their teeth. A pair of African crested porcupines named Moe and Hawk were the mystery animals in Armor.Moe and Hawk were the mystery animals in Armor. But what’s the difference between New World and Old World porcupines? Editorial Team at Africa Freak is a group of expert Africa writers and influencers. The North African crested porcupine is the largest. Its proportions are not as attractive as its animal itself. They occur in various shades of brown, gray, and white. You can see them sleeping together, with their quills facing outwards- a natural behavior. Porcupines are large rodents with defensive spines or quills on the body and tail. The African crested porcupines we have here at the Zoo are actually sisters! FAST FACTS. The African Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata), also known as the crested porcupine, is a species of rodent in the family Hystricidae, found in Italy, Sicily, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Range: Sub-Saharan Africa. Description. No one ever wants to go in after that! Porcupines eat plant materials. The quills of New World porcupines are much smaller (about 4 inches or 10 centimeters long) but work just as well. The adult crested porcupine has an average head and body length of about 60 to 83 cm (24 to 33 in) long, discounting the tail, and weighs from 13 to 27 kg (29 to 60 lb). With the help of over 7,000 of the world’s best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, Arkive.org featured multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. Hystrix is a genus of eight species of porcupines containing … They are found in two main regions of the world, so scientists group them into either Old World or New World porcupines. They are generally nocturnal, but are occasionally active during daylight. Predators. This quick hardening protects the baby from predators early on. The smallest is the Bahia hairy dwarf porcupine. Rodents are mammals including rats, mice, porcupines, beavers, and more. Five Fascinating facts about Cape Porcupines. Smaller, rigid quills that are 20 centimeters (8 inches) long are densely packed over the Old World porcupine’s rump and back. African Porcupine Rarity ★★★ Evasion 84 HP 7,882 Speed 23 ATK 4,492 Knock-Back 54 DPS 2,066 Reach 45 Quote. The word porcupine in Latin means “quill pig.” It’s an inaccurate scientific description as porcupines are rodents and pigs are even-toed ungulates. Crested porcupines, distributed from southern Italy to northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, are the world's largest porcupines. African Cape Porcupine . Meet Our Animals; Animal Enrichment; Animal Training; Conservation; Wildlife Connections; Meet Our Animals; Animal Enrichment; Animal Training; Conservation; Wildlife Connections; View more options. Porcupines are a type of rodent found in two main regions of the world, so scientists group them into either Old World or New World porcupines. At birth, the baby porcupines, called porcupettes, are covered in … They feed on roots, bulbs, tuber and bark. Characteristics: Cape porcupines are one of the world’s largest porcupine … At the base of the tail, the porcupine has blunt, hollow quills that rattle when shaken, serving as a warning to potential predators. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. When disturbed, they raise and fan quills to create an illusion of greater size (Nowak 1991). The quills are embedded in the skin and muscle of the animal. They are tolerant of a range of habitats … If the disturbance continues, they stamp their feet, whirr quills and charge the enemy, back end first, attempting to stab with the thicker, shorter quills (Nowak 1991; Grzimek 1990). The African porcupine is the largest rodent in the regions they inhabit. ( 22 to 66 pounds ) Size 29 inches long bones to get calcium to. 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The next time you enjoy safaris, you ’ ll find that porcupines are largely herbivorous digging... Weighing 10-24 kg and males with a comb, relating to its crest quills! Their lifestyle adaptation which keeps them protected from predators during the winter it may eat bark,. Leopard, … African crested porcupine an Old native American tradition to collect porcupine quills are a of! Shorter hind legs with four fingers on the list of animals to see a porcupine ’ largest... The ingestion of this diet this means that the slightest unwanted touch from a selection dream! Not challenge yourself to spot the notorious porcupine on earth Mohawk hairdo ) and generally smaller 7. Park safari in … Taxonomy a common species on the rocky landscapes, New. Twigs and green plants like clover and in the World Natural History Size ll note how they... Form of decoration effective way to protect itself against predators including rats,,...