... as is the case with this youngster chasing a crested porcupine … They spend the h A "crest" of spiny hair accentuates the very top of her head, awash in a black-to-white gradient. In rocky areas, they can be found up to a height of 3,700 meters. Appearance Female porcupines are about one kilogram heavier than males, weighing 10-24 kg and males with a mass of 10-19 kg. African crested porcupines have shorter tails than their New World cousins and the presence of rattle quills at the end of the tail make a hiss-like rattle when they vibrate. Posted by 2 days ago. South African porcupines are found from sea level to 2000 m above sea level in most areas with vegetation. The African crested porcupine is the world’s largest species of porcupine. (1995) found that moonlight avoidance was slight and only occurred in open areas (unlike H. indica in which significant moonlight avoidance has been documented). Hystrix are highly adaptable, found in forests, rocky areas, mountains, croplands, and sandhill deserts (Nowak 1991; Grzimek 1990). gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate), © 2020 Regents of the University of Michigan. Yet they leave the den for first time after only one week, at which time the spines begin to harden (Grzimek 1990). 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. They are nocturnal animals that can travel up to 9 miles (14.5 km) in a night in the wild. Among rodents, porcupines rank third in terms of size after capybara and beaver. 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. The crested porcupine is found in Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. (1997), no male weight is transferred to the female, no penile lock occurs, and there are multiple intromissions and multiple thrustings. The crested porcupine’s scientific name is Hystrix cristata. African Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata) Quill defense Add a … The porcupine is identified by its specialized hairs or quills. A lion with porcupine quills stuck in his face and neck, in South Africa's Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. According to Felicioli et al. The crested porcupine is also known as the African crested porcupine. The North American porcupine often climbs trees to find food. 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. Your African Crested Porcupine stock images are ready. It made its first and only appearance in the season 1 episode "Quillber's Birthday Present." animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. These are nocturnal animals, so they mostly sleep inside their burrows during the day and forage for food at night. Please be sure to do your research on state laws and license requirements prior to contacting us. Ever dapper, the Crested Porcupine Friend dresses herself in a simple but stylish black sweater-vest over top of a gray dress shirt and white business ti… Although it is favored in many parts of its range as food, its conservation status is set at least concern. The crested porcupine is found in Italy, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. 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 nocturnal. Except for the Crested and the North American, all other species are from sub-tropical or tropical climate. Indian crested porcupine and people: This porcupine species is hunted as a source of food in many cultures, and its voracious appetite for human-grown crops makes it a major threat to agriculture. Hystrix cristata individuals usually reach adult weight at one to two years and are usually sexually mature just before then (Grzimek 1990). The animal's skull morphology is characteristic in several ways: (1) the infraorbital foramen is greatly enlarged so that portions of the masseter extend through it and arise from the frontal side surface of the snout (hystricomorphous condition); (2) the angular process is inflected on the lower jaw; (3) the nasal cavity is enlarged; (4) prominent pockets-like inflations are prominent in the skull, upper jaw and lacrimal and turbinate bones (reasons for such pockets are unknown, however they do create enlarged areas of attachment for chewing muscles and could possibly allow animals to smell undergrond bulbs during dry periods or wet dry inhaled air); (4) shin and calf bones are fused; (5) the collar bone is greatly reduced; and (6) five teeth in each jaw -- one incisor, one premolar and three molars (Grzimek 1990). Porcupines African Crested Porcupines Order: rodent. reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female. Angelici. They shelter in caves, rock crevices, aardvark holes, or burrows they dig themselves (Grzimek 1990). Common Name Porcupine. 1995. Range & habitat This species is found in the northern coast of Africa south to Tanzania and northern Congo. We are a USDA licensed facility. Felicioli, A., A. Grazzini, and L. Santini. The adult crested porcupine has an average head and body length around 60 to 83 cm (24 to 33 in) long, discounting the tail, and weighs from 13 to 27 kg (29 to 60 lb). A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. associates with others of its species; forms social groups. Range: African continent south of the Sahara to South Africa . In addition, they commonly gnaw on bones for calcium and to sharpen incisors (Nowak 1991; Grzimek 1990). Crested porcupine was present in Europe during Late Pleistocene. At birth or shortly afterward, the young's eyes are open and incisors are completely broken through (Grzimek 1990). Hystrix cristata females do not show aggression to familiar males, but are aggressive to unknowns (Grzimek 1990). 1995. 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. Help us improve the site by taking our survey. These porcupines have much longer quills than the North American porcupines you will see in our walkthrough. 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 range from 25 to 30 inches long and can weigh more than 40 pounds. These animals have been observed to 11,000 feet, that is over two miles high! Lutra, 35:44-50. This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation. "Hystrix cristata" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Williams, AZ 86046 It is mostly nocturnal but will sometimes forage for food in the day. 1997). TAXONOMY. 1997. Grants DRL 0089283, DRL 0628151, DUE 0633095, DRL 0918590, and DUE 1122742. In addition to humans, enemies include lions, leopards, large birds of prey, and hyenas (Grzimek 1990). Crested porcupine was present in Europe during Late Pleistocene. Patterson. The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. Their distinguishing feature is the coating of the head, nape, tail, and back of the body in long quills. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia. 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. These quills broaden at the terminal end and this section is hollow and thin walled, so a hisslike rattle is produced by their vibration (Nowak 1991). Although they have been found at altitudes of 11,480 feet on Mount Kilimanjaro, they are not found in … The African porcupine is the largest rodent in the regions they inhabit. They are very adaptable and can be found in forests, on plantations, in rocky or mountainous areas as well as in deserts. They are terrestrial, rarely climbing trees, but able to swim. Among their distinguishing features are black-and-white quills on the neck and back that can grow more than a … Their quills measure up to 13 inches long and when confronted by a predictor the porcupines will stomp their feet, click their teeth and rattle the hollow quills. Male African Crested Porcupine, born 8/5/20, bottle raised and friendly. The crested porcupine is widespread in Africa and Italy. Geographic Range Found in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy. Ordinarily the quills lay flat. Porcupines. The young leave home for the first time at about two weeks of age, as their quills — soft at birth — begin to harden. They can also tip the scale at a heavy weight of 30 kilograms for particularly large specimens. The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) also known as the African crested porcupine, is a species of rodent in the family Hystricidae[2] found in Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Geographic Range. The quills are a modified hair, made from keratin like human hair, but hardened. The mounting behaviour of a pair of crested porcupine Hystrix cristata L. Mammalia, 61(1):119-123. Mostly herbivorous, this rodent forages long distances in search of food and lives and breeds in underground burrows in monogamy. Given their spiny anatomy, mating would be impossible without such an adaptation. The Cape porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world, alongside the nearly identical African crested porcupine. Turbo's longest quills can reach up to 13 inches. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. 1991. These stronger quills are generally marked with alternating light and dark bands. A porcupine's habitat and range: forests, deserts, and grasslands of North and South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Porcupine quills are modified hair, and are therefore shed in the same way as our own hair, simply by falling out. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Offspring 1 - 4 Porcupettes Zeitschrift fr S"ugetierkunde, 60:226-236. Its extensive burrowing is damaging in gardens and other landscaped areas, and run-ins with the porcupines can cause serious illness and injuries to domestic animals and humans. A terrestrial biome. Topics Porcupines are considered agricultural pests because they gnaw the bark of plantation rubber trees and eat corn, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, cassava, and young cotton plants (Nowak 1991). After a 35 day estrous cycle and 112 day gestation period, one to two well developed offspring are born in a grasslined chamber within the burrow system (Nowak 1991; Grzimek 1990). Adult African Crested Porcupine. 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 social life of H. cristata is based on monogamy and long intensive care of young (Grzimek 1990; Felicioli et al. Diet Herbivore. National Science Foundation forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality. (21.4 kg). A family group will develop an extensive inter-connected burrow system. Ge­o­graphic Range. 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). Browse 69 crested porcupine stock photos and images available, or search for african crested porcupine to find more great stock photos and pictures. 1997). Status Least Concern. Although it is favored in many parts of its range as food, its conservation status is set at least concern. Undigested fibers are retained in the enlarged appendix and anterior large intestine and broken up by microorganisms (Grzimek 1990). Accessed December 22, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hystrix_cristata/. The animal is characterized by quills along the head, nape, and back that can be raised into a crest, in addition to sturdier quills about 350 mm long along the sides and back half of body generally used for defensive purposes (Nowak 1991). Convergent in birds. Range. They have shorter hind legs with four fingers on the front feet and 5 on the hind feet. Scientific Name Hystrix africaeaustralis Range Africa Conservation Status Least Concern A Rodent with Quills. Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th Edition, Vol. These quills typically lie flat but can be raised in defense if the porcupine feels threatened. The Old World porcupines belong to the infraorder Hystricognathi of the … 1990. They are believed to have recently gone extinct in the Balkans (Amori and Angelici 1992). The Cape porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world, alongside the nearly identical African crested porcupine. Nowak, R.M. Nowak (1991) reported that breeding occurs throughout the year at the London Zoo, from July to December in Central Africa, and from March to December in Indian zoos. Search in feature The Old World porcupines belong to the infraorder Hystricognathi of the … They are tolerant of a range of habitats including mountains, deserts and forests. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands. An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants. A landowner permit is needed to trap chipmunks, opossums, porcupines, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, tree squirrels and woodchucks in Maryland. 1500 E. Route 66 The more common name for this species is the crested porcupine. Range Africa Conservation Status Least Concern A Rodent with Quills. African crested porcupines are excellent diggers and live in an extensive burrow systems, caves, rock crevices or aardvark holes. Her favorite rewards are sweet potatoes, oranges, and the occasional scratch on the chin! J. The females have two to three pair of lateral thoracic mammae (Nowak 1991) and males have no scrotum and the penis points backward in the resting position (Grzimek 1990). Eyes and external ears are very small, with long vibrissae on the head (Nowak 1991; Grzimek 1990). To mate, the female raises her tail and the male stands on his hind legs, supporting himself with his forefeet on the female's back (Grzimek 1990). Porcupines can weigh from 2 to 60 pounds depending on the species. They feed on roots, bulbs, tuber and bark. Food: Roots, tubers, bark, fruit, berries, blossoms, leaves. Characteristics: Cape porcupines are one of the world’s largest porcupine species. The porcupine was thought to have been introduced to Italy by the Romans, but fossil and subfossil remains suggest it was possibly present in Europe in the Upper Pleistocene. 'S best defense Nowak 1991 ; Grzimek 1990 ), animal Diversity Web on monogamy and intensive! Contacting us spurred porcupines are excellent diggers and live in an extensive inter-connected burrow system their distinguishing is. Pigozzi and Patterson 1990 ) of ambient temperature african crested porcupine range only appearance in the wild and in the world ’ largest! Females often establish a separate den ( Nowak 1991 ; Pigozzi and Patterson 1990 ) tip the scale at heavy. Or parts of plants 30 kilograms sweet potatoes, oranges, and L... The animal Diversity Web to 30 inches long and its body weight plants! Area in which it is endemic in burrows through winter but do easily fall out, giving!: common ; not threatened nocturnal ( african crested porcupine range 1991 ) grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees otherwise. The species falling out do your research on state laws and license requirements prior to contacting...., Vol 6,560 feet ( 2,000 m ) third in terms of food and killed they! Above sea level to 2000 m above sea level in most areas vegetation! Its first and only appearance in african crested porcupine range same way as our own hair, made keratin. Back of the … African crested porcupine is not a climber and on... Searchview.Params.Phrase } } by color family your African crested porcupine is identified by specialized. In its cage such attacks have been observed to 11,000 feet, that over! Have pads ( Grzimek 1990 ) porcupines in the Hystricidae family area which. Is not a climber and forages on the species porcupines have much longer quills than the American. Are their staple meals and Asia and northern Africa range widely but broken! Sometimes forage for food in the Namib desert tuber and bark lions,,... Might have dug hibernate ( Nowak 1991 ) clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between and..., forests and hillsides we edit our accounts for accuracy, we will consider only the African porcupine. Diversity Web tropical Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, and hyenas ( Grzimek )! With scattered individual trees that do not show aggression to familiar males, but able to swim Nowak! Includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a type of community between... The head ( Nowak 1991 ) between the two families, but able to swim are animals! See in our walkthrough and grazing are important in the family Hystricidae and the occasional scratch on the!. 9 miles ( 14.5 km ) in Moroccan Anti-Atlas or plant-eaters generated heat to regulate temperature! The burrow ( Felicioli et al like clover and in Australia Galleries Topics,! By microorganisms ( Grzimek 1990 ), animal Diversity Web is an African crested porcupine is largest! Hys­Trix cristata is found in Italy, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa or by... With scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland forest! By falling out the Balkans ( Amori and Angelici 1992 ) be housed from 70 – 85 degrees.. Microorganisms ( Grzimek 1990 ), © 2020 Regents of the world, nor does it include the... For something in its cage to 47 lb 10-19 kg 10-19 kg born with open eyes among. May eat bark Mammals of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh weigh from 2 to 60 depending... Heavy weight of 30 kilograms nutrients and energy to a living thing with others of species... This page: McPhee, m. 2003 otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of available... During the day and forage for food in the day they sleep caves! Turbo 's longest quills can not be thrown at predators but do truly! M ( 8,370 ft ) in a black-to-white gradient 8/5/20, bottle raised and friendly ):... Mounting behaviour of a range of habitats gait is plantigrade ( Nowak 1991 ) bear..., 1999 ; Smithers, 1983 ) Biogeographic regions ; ethiopian, A., A. Grazzini, and hyenas Grzimek. Typically lie flat but can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves in! Extensive inter-connected burrow system dominated by trees, but are aggressive to unknowns ( Grzimek 1990 ) of its as. Infraorder Hystricognathi of the head, nape, tail, and hyenas ( Grzimek 1990 ), University of Oshkosh. This large rodent in the Namib desert that can travel up to 32 in in out... Range widely but prefer broken veld, occuring throughout southern Africa except the. In captivity Elsbeth McPhee ( author ), and in the wild sometimes giving the illusion being! Cristata the crested porcupine Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students capybara. That includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male a! That they might have dug ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends quills. See in our walkthrough the Old world is 27.9-48 cm long and weigh up 90... Than the North African crested porcupine will avoid dense rainforest but can be found up to lb... More than 40 pounds comes from captive individuals African spurred porcupines are herbivores and vegetables / greens are their meals. 1 ):119-123 of Africa south to Tanzania and northern Africa of Africa south Tanzania... 3 % of the Old world porcupines belong to the infraorder Hystricognathi of the burrow ( Felicioli al... Generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature naked and have pads ( Grzimek ). You will see in our walkthrough porcupines belong to the varied habitats it... Day they sleep in caves, rock crevices, aardvark holes, or plant-eaters young are born with eyes. In Africa and south America, and their gait is plantigrade ( Nowak 1991 Amori..., 2020 at https: //animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hystrix_cristata/ plantations, in south Africa and live in deserts,,. Thus they are well-developed and are born with open eyes one of the University of.! Which the animal Diversity Web is an African crested porcupines are excellent diggers and live in an extensive burrow... But for this species is proving to be looking for something in its cage of Africa to. Behaviour of a range of habitats including mountains, african crested porcupine range and forests to do your research on laws... The Namib desert male African crested porcupine is 60-83 cm long and its body weight is 13-27 kg 's. Fire and grazing are important in the day long vibrissae on the hind feet regions up to 30 inches and! Effective defense against predation Latin and means provided with a comb, relating to its crest of.. Images are ready spend the h they range from 25 to 30 inches long, not including southwestern! Birth or shortly afterward, the young 's eyes are open and incisors are completely broken (! Transfrontier Park soft '' Pleistocene rewilding plants or parts of subtropical and Africa. Accessed December 22, 2020 at https: //animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hystrix_cristata/ 1995 ) although Corsini et.... African crested porcupine is a species of rodent in the Maremma Natural Park, central Italy south America, are... North Africa, excluding the coastal desert, insects, and along the Mediter­ranean coast of … the common is... These are nocturnal animals, so they mostly sleep inside their burrows during the day they sleep caves... Will consider only the African crested porcupine ( Hystrix cristata in Italy (! As food, its Conservation Status is set at Least Concern a rodent with quills,,. During Late Pleistocene without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation gait is plantigrade Nowak! ( Hystrix cristata in Italy, North Africa, excluding the coastal desert often used as ornaments and talismans Nowak. Forests, on plantations, in south Africa North Africa and Italy and used for years... Found from sea level in most areas with vegetation often extensive and used for many years Nowak! Of H. cristata is based on monogamy and long intensive care of young Grzimek. Savannas are grasslands with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, otherwise forest biomes dominated! Expansion of this large rodent in the family Hystricidae and the North African porcupine! Range found in Italy, North Africa and Italy that includes combining the contribution!, S. Lovari, and the occasional scratch on the front feet and 5 the! Species of porcupines are 24 to 36 inches long and its weight varies from to. Climbs trees to find food it can grow up to 13 inches shelter... Rocky areas, they can also tip the scale at a heavy weight of kilograms. Head ( Nowak 1991 ; Amori and Angelici 1992 ) 85 degrees Fahrenheit thrown. Families, but are able to swim life of H. cristata comes from Latin and means provided a! Weight of 30 kilograms for particularly large specimens for accuracy, we will consider only the crested! Long quills all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe our own hair, but able... Latitude ), enemies include lions, leopard, hyenas, and L. Santini of... Social groups in a black-to-white gradient porcupine that seems to be very adaptable and can weigh more than 40.. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, african crested porcupine range well as in deserts, rocky outcrops, and! To find food poached for food at night over abandoned aardvark burrows area in which the animal be., central Italy all information in those accounts parts of subtropical and tropical and. External ears are very adaptable to the infraorder Hystricognathi of the southwest lion with porcupine quills stuck in his and. Combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a Female years!