Porcupines don't actually "shoot" their quills, but shed them upon impact, so they become imbedded in an attacker. The spines covering the body measure about 50mm in length, with sharp black defence quills scattered in-between. As rodents, their incisors grow continuously, so they need to gnaw on items to keep them sharp and worn down. 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). A literature review found limited information on relevant anatomy and surgical approach, with a single report describing the need for CT to locate the testes. The Cape Porcupine is a monogamous animal and will usually live with its mate, defending its territory (which can consist of around six different burrows) together. Cape porcupines are Hystricomorph rodents, and surprisingly, are not closely related at all to New World porcupines. All porcupine species fall into a very diverse order called Rodentia. This makes it practically impossible for the predator to retrieve. Tickets are still available 1/4 - 17. In the wild, their lifespan is about a decade, while they can live for double that period in captivity. They are covered with flat, bristly hairs and have quills and spines on the back and flanks. Cape porcupines' bodies are covered with flat, bristly hairs, and they have large quills on their posterior back and sides that range from a couple of inches to a foot in length. The young nurse for three to four months and reach full size by one year of age. The quills detach readily if touched by a predator, but grow back quickly. From the head to the base of it’s tail, a cape porcupine measures between 63 and 81cm (25 and 32in) long. Karoo National Park - A little piece of Heaven, You’ll Find These 15 Amazing Animals in South Africa, Pack a picnic basket and explore these South African Botanical Gardens. However, they are absent in swamplands, and are very seldom found in very arid areas or in dense forests. More often, though, it will eat fruit, seeds, roots, bulbs and bark. The Cape porcupine is a large (12.0 kg), nocturnal hystricomorph rodent and widely distributed throughout southern Africa. COMMON NAME: Cape Porcupine SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hystrix africaeaustralis TYPE: Mammal DIET: Herbivore GROUP NAME: Prickle. They weigh from 10 to 24 kilograms (22 to 53 pounds), with exceptionally large specimens weighing up to 30 kg (66 lb). Fe­males are, on av­er­age, about one kilo­gram heav­ier than males and both sexes are larger than half a meter long. They live in North Africa, South Africa and East Africa. The quills have black and white bands all along their length, making them popular for use in arts and crafts. They are common in sub-Saharan Africa, but can be found as far away as northern Africa and Italy. However, they are sometimes challenged by lions, leopards, hyenas, and the like. Advance ticket purchase required. Porcupines also have a group of hollow quills on their tails which rattle when shaken. The porcupine does not shoot its quills at predators; rather, it sheds them on impact so that they become imbedded in an attacker. Porcupine can give birth 1-2 times a year with litter size varying from one to three, either, twins or triplets in captivity [5]. Cape porcupine We have two Cape porcupine here at Edinburgh Zoo, a male named Little Rick and a female named Zahara. Their teeth and gut are both adapted to handle tough material that other animals may not be able to break down or digest. Litters are usually born between August and March. Porcupines need to stay indoors and off exhibit if it's below 40 degrees. Size: 60 lbs The African Crested Porcupine, also known as a crested porcupine, is one of the world’s largest rodents. Hyenas, leopards, raptors and pythons will eat porcupines on occasion. Cape porcupines are solitary or found in small family groups. Due to their effective defence system, the African Porcupine does not easily succumb to predators. They are found in The Afrotropics. Acute hearing allows this species to respond quickly to threats. Rodents are mammals including rats, mice, porcupines, beavers, and more. Their digging does promote soil oxygenation and the new growth of bulbs, though. They are similar in appearance to, and only slightly larger than, their close relatives, the crested porcupines, and can most easily be distinguished from them by the presence of a band of short white spines along the midline of the rump. The following is a small sample of thousands of species of wildlife found in South Africa. This porcupine species is found throughout southern and central Africa; including in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, and the Congo. The gestation period of the South African Porcupine is about 94 days, or roughly three months, long. The young are born with soft quills and incisors, while the other teeth start appearing at two weeks of age. In South Africa, the porcupine can be found at the Rietvlei Nature Reserve between Johannesburg and Pretoria, Seekoei Nature Reserve (just outside Jeffrey’s Bay), the Amakhala Nature Reserve (near Grahamstown and Port Alfred), and the Zandvlei Estuary in Cape Town. The resulting rattle is an unmistakable threat. 60 to 93 centimeters in length (23 to 37 inches) Life span. Those wanting to use them should be committed to ensuring that they were obtained in an eco-friendly, non-harmful way. The South African Porcupine has small eyes and ears and rather short whiskers. At birth, porcupettes are approximately 3% of the female's body weight and typically range between .66 to 1 pound. These are shorter, at around 30mm and have a very sharp tip. The Cape porcupine, leopard, and chacma baboon were the most diversely utilised, with 16, 15, and 11 distinct uses being attributed to them, respectively. They'll modify natural shelters, such as caves, crevices or burrows created by other animals. 10 to 30 kilograms (22 to 66 pounds) Size. Travelling to South Africa? Because of their preference for plant roots and bulbs, these porcupines can become a pest amongst farmers, who make their living from the crops. The Cape Porcupine lives for a relatively long time. Some really big males can weigh up to 30 kg, but this is unusual. 3a). SA-Venues.com © 1999-2020. This porcupine species is nocturnal. Want to see african or cape porcupine in their natural habitat? Rodents, such as our African crested porcupines, have ever growing front teeth (called incisors). Females can give birth one to two times per year. The young grow rapidly, reaching full size in about a year. This porcupine's communication is based primarily on smell, as they scent mark their territories with strong-smelling urine. The spines are thicker in diameter and longer in length than the quills. They feed on roots, bulbs, tuber and bark. They care for their young together, but will usually forage for food independently of their mate. Specific foetal growth velocity for the Cape porcupine is higher than that recorded for most other hystricomorph rodents, but similar to that recorded for large-bodied rodents of the same group. The African crested porcupine is native to regions of Northern Africa, Southern Europe, and areas of the Mediterranean. Female porcupines have teats on their sides just behind their front legs, and they lay sternal to nurse their offspring. THe porcupine does not shoot its quills out in defence, as it is rumoured to do. Rodents in the wild, their lifespan is about 110 to 200mm long.! 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