Crested porcupine

Crested porcupine

Description

The crested porcupine is a large ground-dwelling rodent with a robust body reaching 60-83 cm in length and weighing around 11-27 kg. Its back and sides are covered in long, black-and-white banded quills up to about 35 cm long that form a protective armour, and a crest of stiff hairs on the head and neck can be raised in defence.

Habitat

It ranges across much of Africa, from North Africa through West, Central and East Africa, and also occurs in parts of southern Europe. It favours savannahs, scrubland, wooded edges and rocky slopes, where it shelters in burrows it digs itself or takes over from other animals.

Diet

This mainly herbivorous animal feeds on roots, tubers, bulbs, fruit, bark and leaves, with only the occasional small amount of animal matter. It often gnaws on bones to obtain calcium and other minerals.

Reproduction

After a gestation of roughly two to four months the female gives birth to one to four young, usually one or two. The babies are born with soft quills that harden within a few days.

Lifespan

In the wild crested porcupines live around 10 years, while in human care they can reach 20 years or more.

Did you know?

Contrary to popular belief, porcupines cannot shoot or fire their quills; the quills simply detach very easily and lodge in a predator that makes contact.