The largest porcupine is the North African crested porcupine. They are also killed for their quills, which are used as ornaments and talismans. The young are born in a special chamber, located in their burrow system and lined with grass. They mate in November-December. The collective noun for a mother porcupine and her … The tips of the quills on the tail are narrow and hollow. Porcupines have been known to injure lions, leopards, hyenas, even humans. The sharp, sturdy quills of the African crested porcupine give it highly effective protection against predators. Mating is a thorny challenge because of the spines and quills of the two participants. The African crested porcupine lives in hilly, rocky habitats in Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy. They were probably brought over from Africa by humans. The North African crested porcupine is the largest porcupine on earth. They live in forests, deserts, rocky outcrops, and hillsides. They return to the den and rest during the day. The North African crested porcupine is the largest. Because they are rodents, their teeth keep growing throughout their lives, like beavers and rats. They range from South Africa north to Tanzania. The more common name for this species is the crested porcupine. The Crested porcupines are monogamous animals, forming long-lasting pairs. There are black and white quills on the neck and back. Help expand the Oregon Zoo's local and global conservation efforts by joining our Conservation Circle. 10. 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. On their back, these rodents possess long and formidable quills, which are an important mean of self-defense. They will run backwards into their enemy's, stabbing them with their quills, which then break off in the predators skin. It lives in hilly, rocky habitats in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy. The word 'porcupine' is a combination of Latin words “porcus” (pig) and “spina” (thorn). The zoo's gardeners bring them logs, sticks and leafy branches, and Sharpie and Nolina carry these around and chew the bark off of them. African bullfrogs are carnivores and eat other frogs and birds. A North American porcupine in Utah's Zion National Park. Keepers provide them with many opportunities to wear down their teeth. African crested porcupines eat tubers, bark, bulbs, fallen fruit and cultivated root crops. However, these dimensions are not as impressive as the sight of the animal itself. On average, a porcupine has 30,000 quills. Porcupine In Madison Range | Photo: D. Lennon. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Its body is covered with coarse quills 1 to 13 inches long and of varying thicknesses. Introduction to the ecology of sky islands, Geology: How the Cascade Mountains were formed, Introduction to the global climate system, How we know the global climate has changed. The Cape porcupine grows up to a meter long and 20kg in weight. In the wild, porcupines have been known to collect and chew bones. The African crested porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world. Its most heavily armed area is its hindquarters, which have short, thick quills. Gestation period lasts for 112 days, yielding 1 - 2 well-developed babies. Watch live video with fun facts and interested info on the African Crested Porcupines at Lake Tobias Wildlife Park . The Oregon Zoo's African crested porcupines Sharpie and Nolina live in the Africa Rainforest exhibit. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. They are almost entirely covered with bristle-like guard hair, in addition to having quills from the head to their tail. They include the large crested porcupines, some of which can grow more than 2 feet ... 10 Fun Facts About Hedgehogs. Females usually have one litter per year after a pregnancy lasting about 112 days. This species is proving to be very adaptable to the varied habitats of it's home range. Farmers use dogs to hunt them or smoke them out of their burrows; in some areas, farmers illegally use poison to kill them. A little look into the wonderful blue sky! It can grow up to 90 centimeters long and weigh up to 30 kilograms. The largest porcupine is the crested porcupine, found in North Africa, which grows up to 36 inches long. Here are 8 Interesting Facts About Porcupine. These circular quills can … New World porcupines characteristics New World porcupines are more or less similar in … They develop elaborate burrows to house this family group. African crested porcupines are monogamous. Pyxicephalus adspersusAfrican bullfrogs are the largest frog in southern Africa, with some reaching dinner-plate size. The smallest is the Bahia hairy dwarf porcupine. This is the world’s largest porcupine – and also by far the largest rodent in Africa. Porcupines occupy a short range of habitats in tropical and temperate parts of Asia, Southern Europe, Africa, and North and South America. Each quill is marked with black and white bands. They return to the den and rest during the day. It grows up to 15 inches (38 cm) long. The North American porcupine has over 30,000 quills! It belongs to the Old World porcupine family, Hystricidae. Porcupines are born with soft quills that begin to harden a few hours after birth. African Crested Porcupine The crested porcupine is part of the family Hystricidae. They are nocturnal and forage alone at night, traveling up to 9 miles in their search for food. The North African crested porcupine is the largest porcupine on earth. As a matter of fact, these long and thin quills on their back are known as ‘rattle quills’. It's a vision to behold as it trundles along, beneath a quivering battery of spines – … African crested porcupines eat tubers, bark, bulbs, fallen fruit and cultivated root crops. The crested porcupine is a species of rodent in the family Hystricidae. Farmers use dogs to hunt them or smoke them out of burrows. If you were ever looking for an unusual piece of trivia, the porcupine held the record for being the longest living rodent in the world. I LOVE the North American Porcupines WAY MORE! It is a myth that porcupines shoot their quills. The major difference between Old and New world species is that the Old World porcupines live on the ground and often in small groups, while the New World porcupin… Your donation will help build on the successes of the Future for Wildlife program, which has provided funding for conservation projects around the world since 1998. They display their weaponry for all to see. They live about 20 years, both in the wild and in captivity. One to 4 offspring, called "porcupettes," are born in a separate grass-lined birth chamber within the burrow system. They were sold to us as a mating pair, which obviously they are not. They weigh between 22 and 66 pounds. The crested porcupine is found in Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Whereas, the larger crested porcupine is 60-83 cm long and its body weight is 13-27 kg. Welcome to the sixth great mass extinction! Porcupine or Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) Order Rodentia. The African Crest Porcupine quills do not have barbs. Bacteria found on the quills gets into the blood of the attacker and may be fatal. AFRICAN CRESTED PORCUPINES We have owned some AC Porkies for several years now. San Diego Zoo Safari Park. They develop elaborate burrows to house this family group. FUN FACTS. The crest starts from the top of the head and goes down to the shoulders. 1-5 Interesting Facts About Porcupine 1. The adult crested porcupine has an average head and body length of about 60 to 83 cm (24 to 33 in) long, discounting … Family Hystricidae. Habitat: Found in varied habitats. The crested porcupine is the largest and heaviest of African rodents. These circular quills can … This rodent is 25 – 29 inches long (63-73 cm) and weighs about 18 – 51 pounds (8-23 kg). Adult African Crested Porcupines can weigh up to 60 pounds, and can grow to 3 feet in length excluding their tail. Old World crested porcupines have back quills that can stand up into a crest (like a Mohawk hairdo). The quills stand up when a porcupine feels threatened and detach easily when touched. Fun Facts. 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. Both sexes are about 84 cm in length. Range: African continent south of the Sahara to South Africa . It grows up to 36 inches (90 centimeters) long. The porcupettes are born with open eyes and developed teeth, though the quills on their backs are soft. Rodents make up about 40% of all the mammal species on Earth. The young leave home for the first time at about two weeks of age, as their quills — soft at birth — begin to harden. Discovering ancient high-altitude human settlements, Stonehenge: The mystery of the Amesbury Archer, An ancient murder mystery: The Stonehenge Archer, Facts about the African crested porcupine, Facts about the black-handed spider monkey, The increasing threat to wild Chinese giant salamanders, The mystery of how flowering plants evolved, African crested Porcupine {Hystrix cristata} - Author: Drew Avery, African crested Porcupine {Hystrix cristata} - Author Drew Avery. Interesting Porcupine Facts 1. Porcupines are covered in quills all over their body except their belly, face, and feet. 1 Click the picture on the left for the to the video 2 Tap: View original to load the video Activity: DIY Porcupine Defense 3 Click the button to load your template 4 Use the tool or the to share 2-3 facts you learned today, Fun Fact : Porcupines are great at finding food—they're nocturnal and will forage for up to 9 hours a night, seeking out bark from trees and digging up roots to eat. The African porcupine is the largest rodent in the regions they inhabit. 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. They leave the den about a week later, just as their quills begin to harden. This rodent is 25 – 29 inches long (63-73 cm) and weighs about 18 – 51 pounds (8-23 kg). Porcupine quills may be as dense as 150 quills per square inch (6.4 square centimeters). The quills are a variety of lengths with the longest growing almost 1 foot in length. The gestation period of the African crested porcupine is about 112 days. If this fails, it runs backwards and rams the attacker with the short, thick quills on its backside. Other articles where African crested porcupine is discussed: 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. They are well-developed and are born with open eyes. The crested porcupine lives in burrows, and can be found in North and West Africa, and parts of East Africa and the Mediterranean. They are nocturnal and forage alone at night, traveling up to 9 miles in their search for food. African crested porcupines are 24 to 36 inches long, not counting their 3 to 6 ½ inch tail. What you need to know about the CARES Act. Appearance Female porcupines are about one kilogram heavier than males, weighing 10-24 kg and males with a mass of 10-19 kg. Between one and four young are born in the grass-lined burrow. Porcupines weigh 2.5 to 77 lbs. If a porcupine loses a quill, it grows a new one. It is still present in mainland Italy, Sicily, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Porcupines defend themselves by spreading their quills and backing into their target, releasing their quills upon contact. Though they forage alone, they live in small family groups made up of an adult pair and their young, both infants and juveniles. It has been recorded from sea level to 2,550 m (8,370 ft) in Moroccan Anti-Atlas. Keepers also offer them antlers to carry around and chew. 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