In addition, they can use carrion on occasion. The world's largest porcupine, this rodent exhibits black and white quills along its head. On this episode, The Zoo take in two African Crested Porcupines named Junebug and Sneedy. It is nocturnal, and it has bad eyesight, so it relies on its sense of smell and strong hearing to find food. Measurements. African crested porcupines are the largest species of porcupines found in Africa. Though they forage alone, they live in small family groups made up of an adult pair and their young, both infants and juveniles. Although they have been found at altitudes of 11,480 feet on Mount Kilimanjaro, they are not found in dry, empty deserts or damp forests. In order to wear down their teeth, these rodents chew hard objects such as bones, collecting them in their burrows. Weighing in at approximately 30 pounds and others reaching up to 60, they are the 3rd largest rodent in the world. The African Crested Porcupine is a large, stout rodent with small eyes, a blunt rounded head, and erect quills which cover its crown, back and flanks. Crested porcupines have high crowned teeth with plane chewing surfaces for grinding plant cells that are then digested in the stomach (Grzimek 1990). Quills of newborn porcupines are soft, starting to harden just a few hours after birth. Gestation period lasts for 112 days, yielding 1 - 2 well-developed babies. The Crested porcupine is so called due to its back, which can raise, becoming a crest on occasion. Click on the pictures below to meet our resident animals! Cape Porcupine Facts. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Asian porcupine ' porcupines, this porcupine is the African porcupine uses its powerful to. If this action doesn't work, it will stamp its feet, vibrate its quills, attacking the opponent back first in order to stab the rival with thicker and shorter quills on its back end. Crested Porcupine Hystrix cristata. However; porcupines are not related to pigs, they are actually rodents. There are many similarities between the two families, but for this text, we will consider only the African Crested Porcupine. Although clumsy on land, they are agile in water, being exceptionally good swimmers. Brachyura Credit: Getty Images pile of malayan porcupine diet that have lots of pine needles in them to 16 inches porcupine! Diet: African spurred porcupines are primarily herbivores, or plant-eaters. Food and digestion. Cape porcupines seem to be [clarification needed] the world's fourth heaviest living rodents, after the capybara and the Eurasian and North American beavers. Their distinguishing feature is the coating of the head, nape, tail, and back of the body in long quills. They are solitary foragers, taking long trips of up to 15 km each night. Although the crested porcupine has been confirmed as a “generalist” species in terms of food selection, with adaptations to dig underground storage organs, a strong preference for fruits and epigeal parts of plants was detected in our study. During the first 2 - 3 weeks, they feed upon maternal milk, until they include solid food in their diet. Predators of the North African crested porcupine include lions, leopards, large birds of prey and hyenas. Females usually have only one litter per year, containing one or two or, occasionally three offspring. The African crested porcupine is the largest rodent in Africa, and the 3rd largest rodent in the world, behind the capybara and beaver. These families live in complex burrow systems, where they spend their winter months without hibernating. oregonzoo.org/discover/animals/african-crested-porcupine, arkive.org/north-african-crested-porcupine/hystrix-cristata/, Web Design & Development: Chicago Digital. Years later, I adopted my first porcupine on whim. Meanwhile, these rodents are social animals, forming small family units of an adult pair and their offspring. The deep wounds inflicted from these attacks can prove fatal and crested porcupines have been known to injure lions, leopards, hyenas and even humans. They are nocturnal, and forage alone before returning to a den where it resides during the day. Diet for porcupines: In terms of food, all species of porcupines are herbivores and vegetables / greens are their staple meals. They are quite playful and, outside the burrow, they run and chase one another. Farmers use dogs to hunt them or smoke them out of burrows. Populations in both Europe and Africa attract hunters for their meat, which is a delicacy in some countries of North and West Africa. The use of information within the manuals should be in accordance with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning the care of animals. Status: protected . Diet and Nutrition. African Crested Porcupine is an herbivore that eats bark, bones of dead animals, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fallen fruits, and cultivated crops. It has long hair and black-and-white quills that can grow to a foot in length. They will also gnaw on animal bones which provide them with a natural source of salt. The majority of the diet of our African crested porcupines in the park is made up of fresh vegetables but they also have access to specialist biscuit pellets which give these rodents something hard to chew on, keeping their sharp teeth in check. The porcupine does not shoot its quills at predators; rather, it sheds them on impact so that they become imbedded in an attacker. As nocturnal animals, the Crested porcupines spend their daytime hours in dens, coming out to forage by night. The black & white quills along the head and back can be raised into a crest, thus the name. The African crested porcupine is one of the largest rodents in the world, weighing up to 30 kilograms (kg), and growing nearly up to 1 meter (m) in length. In captivity, fruits and veggies should be their staple diet. Mostly herbivorous, this rodent forages long distances in search of food and lives and breeds in underground burrows in monogamy. Not sure what possessed me, but I am grateful for the experiences she brought into my life. In Morocco, these animals are believed to have a pharmaceutical value, being killed and sold in large numbers to be used in traditional ‘medicines’ and witchcraft. African crested porcupines eat tubers, bark, bulbs, fallen fruit and cultivated root crops. There are two families or porcupines, Hystricidae (Old World Porcupines) and Erethizontidae (New World Porcupines). Between one and four young are born in the grass-lined burrow. Diet. FAQs and photos and husbandry information. The African crested porcupine lives in hilly, rocky habitats in Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy. They can be trained to some extent as they do well with positive reinforcement behavior. Become a Sponsor and connect with our animals in a personal way. These rodents inhabit forests, rocky and mountainous areas, croplands and sandhill deserts of Italy, Sicily and the Mediterranean coast of Africa up to northern Zaire and Tanzania. As nocturnal animals, porcupines use their long whiskers to help them feel around in the dark when foraging. Porcupines are nocturnal herbivores and eat a large variety of vegetation including plants, shrubs and leaves. These porcupines are found in woodlands, forests and savannahs in areas of North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and Italy. When the Crested porcupine is threatened, these quills vibrate, producing a hiss-like sound. These herbivorous (lignivorous) rodents mainly consume bark, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fallen fruits and cultivated crops, complementing their diet with insects and small vertebrates. Their quills have bacteria, which is extremely dangerous for other animals, and can be fatal once getting into their blood. 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. African porcupines are largely herbivorous, digging out bulbs, roots and tubers with their strong claws. The size of the spikes can depend on the porcupine’s species with one of the largest belonging to the African Crested Porcupine as stated by National Geographic. AFRICAN CRESTED PORCUPINE! As opposed North American porcupines, quills of these animals aren't barbed. Federal ID #95-319081214831 Little Tujunga Canyon Road, Lake View Terrace, California 91342-5999(818)-899-8702. 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. ACMs are considered works in progress, since practices continue to evolve through advances in scientific knowledge. To ingest calcium and sharpen incisors, they often gnaw on bones. They develop elaborate burrows to house this family group. According to IUCN, The Crested porcupine is generally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Farmers use dogs to hunt them or smoke them out of burrows. Cape porcupines are also known to gnaw on bones for calcium as well as in order to sharpen their incisors. Primary Diet; herbivore. Crested Porcupine on The IUCN Red List site -, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crested_porcupine, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/10746/0. Diet: Variety of plants, roots, and fruit. Their quill lengths vary on different parts of the body, anywhere from 1” to 12” on their back. Due to the well-developed sense of hearing, these animals are able to hear fruit drop from a tree up to several yards away. Despite a mistaken belief that porcupines shoot their quills, these animals, in fact, spread their quills, backing into the opponent and opening them upon contact. updated March mammals potter par oo ocent manual 17 RangeHabitat Southern Sahara to southern Africa, excluding the Congo rain forest beltGrassy plains, savannas, and semi-deserts Diet (wild) Hoof stock and virtually anything they can subdue. They are herbivores, primarily eating roots, tubers, bark and fallen fruit, and will seek out cultivated root crops like potatoes and carrots, making them agricultural pests. Within the first week of their lives, young porcupines begin to venture from the den, by which time their spines start hardening. Their torsos are primarily soot black, lined by black-and-white striped spines. 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. African Crested Porcupines are the largest species of porcupines in the world and heaviest of all African rodents. DIET. Web Design & Development: Chicago Digital, Wildlife Waystation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. In rural areas, they may eat cultivated crops, such as groundnuts, potatoes, pumpkins and melons. Porcupine Quills. If this fails to deter the predator, the North African crested porcupine will proceed to stamp its feet, whirr its quills to produce a rattling sound, and will then charge its enemy, back-end first, attempting to stab its enemy with its thicker, shorter quills. © 2020 Wildlife Waystation, Inc. Porcupine comes from the Latin “porcus” for pig and “spina” for spine: “spiny pig”… BUT, they are not related to pigs. The crested porcupine is a member of the rodent family and the largest species of porcupine. The crested porcupine is for the most part herbivorous, eating roots, bulbs, and leaves, but occasionally they do consume insects, small vertebrates, and carrion. The young are born in a special chamber, located in their burrow system and lined with grass. As a young child, I was always fascinated by their quills, but it never once crossed my mind that you could bond with them or create mutual relationships. They also feed on fallen fruit and bark and have been reported to eat carrion at times. These animals often travel long distances looking for food. To mating, the male porcupine urinates on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra over. Their status is: Protected. Their food and undigested plant fibres are broken down in the large intestine and … Plains – A slice of Africa is recreated in Indianapolis in the expansive Plains exhibit. They are well-developed and are born with open eyes. Porcupine quills are a favorite ornament and good-luck charm in Africa. Your support will go toward food, veterinary care and enrichment. The gestation period of the African crested porcupine is about 112 days. They are good diggers. The North African crested porcupine are herbivores. The quills are a modified hair, made from keratin like human hair, but hardened. African crested porcupines are one of my personal favorites. The word porcupine means ‘quill pig’ in Latin. In the wild their diet varies from twigs, berries, barks, leaves, roots, stem and other vegetation depending on the seasons and species of porcupines. They gnaw on the bones to sharpen their incisor teeth and to obtain calcium at the same time. Sexual maturity is reached before getting the adult weight, within 1 - 2 years old. Crested porcupines, distributed from southern Italy to northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, are the world's largest porcupines. They can gather thousands of bones in a single burrow. New world porcupines tend to have shorter quills which you could describe as barbs rather than spines In addition, they can use carrion on occasion. It uses its paws to hold food while eating and it will keep an assortment of bones in its burrow to knaw on. The Crested porcupines are monogamous animals, forming long-lasting pairs. Her favorite rewards are sweet potatoes, oranges, and the occasional scratch on the chin! The recommendations are not exclusive management approaches, diets, medical treatments, or procedures, and may require adaptation to the specific needs of individual animals and particular circumstances in each institution. More About African Crested Porcupines. They spend the h The North African crested porcupine is monogamous. and are about 30” in length, and have very poor vision. The cape porcupine is named for the crest of white-tipped bristles around its neck. 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. They mate in November-December. Habitat. The African crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is the largest porcupine in the world. Despite being a solitary forager, they live in small family groups consisting of an adult pair with their young. New quills will grow in to replace lost ones. The crested porcupine is an Old World porcupine inhabiting Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa named for its impressive and defensive crest of 35 centimeter-long quills. The solid and sharp quills, covering the body of this animal, serve as a mean of self-defense against predators and are 35 cm (14 in) in length, displaying alternating light and dark stripes. The young leave home for the first time at about two weeks of age, as their quills — soft at birth — begin to harden. Crested Porcupine Wikipedia article -, 2. They usually cover the porcupine’s body, sometimes even being around their face. The crested porcupine is found in Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. 1. Undigested fibers are retained in the enlarged appendix and anterior large intestine and broken up by microorganisms (Grzimek 1990). They are herbivores, primarily eating roots, tubers, bark and fallen fruit, and will seek out cultivated root crops like potatoes and carrots, making them agricultural pests. These prickles are wide, thin walled and hollow-tipped. When confronted, the North African crested porcupine raises and fans its quills to appear large and imposing. They are nocturnal and forage alone at night, traveling up to 9 miles in their search for food. Turbo loves to make an appearance at our animal presentations where she educates and entertains. These 5 week-old babies love their ba-ba but also ALREADY eat solid foods. Due to consuming cultivated crops and gnawing on plantation trees, these rodents are persecuted and poisoned with bait by farmers as a pest species. The quills of this rodent are so sharp, that the animal can injure lions, leopards, hyenas and humans. Our resident superstar african crested porcupine! Porcupine, African Crested. They return to the den and rest during the day. Their quills are the primary mean of self-defense: when the animal is disturbed or threatened, the quills raise and vibrate, making the porcupine look larger than it is. They weigh approximately 50 lbs. Their diet consists of tubers, bark, bulbs, fruit, and roots and they can travel up to … In the zoo, crested porcupines may be fed yams, apples and spinach. Like all members of the family Hystricidae, the crested porcupine is covered in fearsome quills of varying lengths and thickness which provide it highly effectiv… The African crested porcupine lives in hilly, rocky habitats in Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy. They are also hunted for their quills, used as ornaments and talismans. Size: Head-body length 60 - 93cm Weight: 10 - 24kg. They live together sharing an elaborate burrow system, which they may remain in during winter, although they do not undergo true hibernation. lignivore; eats sap or other plant foods Cape porcupines are also known to gnaw on bones for calcium as well as in order to sharpen their incisors. 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