Porcupines can be found on rocky areas up to 3,700 m (12,100 ft) high. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. Porcupines do need their teeth in order to survive. In North Africa they are killed and sold to be used in traditional medicine. Traveling, food, learning about new cultures, and movies have always interested her, but now her passion for writing is also added to the list. . Name two of the porcupine's adaptive traits and how each helps it survive: 2. The Indian crested porcupine is a large rodent, weighing 11-18 kg (24-40 lb). Reproductive season depends on which part of the world the porcupine is from. "What Do Porcupines Eat? Populations in both Europe and Africa attract hunters for their meat, which is a delicacy in some countries of North and West Africa. Their weight may vary from 3.5 kg 18 kg (7.7 lbs 40 lbs) depending on the species. Found a baby porcupine in the woods near my house today while out turkey hunting. ft.). Their unique features have generated great interests from some humans but a majority of us wouldnt be looking to keep porcupines as pets. The first thing that probably comes to your mind when you think of porcupine is; a creature with sharp needles likes spikes, waiting to throw them at you if you get closer. I never did. In order to wear down their teeth, these rodents chew hard objects such as bones, collecting them in their burrows. They leave the den about a week later, just as their quills begin to harden. They are full of energy, curiosity and needs. They are not cuddly like cats and dogs nor are they like birds, reptiles, fish or other mammals. Size: 24 - 33 inches length Weight: 22 - 66 lbs Lifespan: 20 years in the wild. The crested porcupine is found in Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. In North American porcupines, this starts at late summer through early fall. On average, an adult weighs between 29 and 60 pounds. What Do African Brush-tailed Porcupines Eat? Other porcupines, mainly the stump-tailed porcupine, were observed at the Sangay National Park in Ecuador to display both diurnal and nocturnal tendencies. The porcupine is friendlier then the barn cat. These animals like to eat succulent plants like rose bushes, pansies, all types of berries, and corn. These porcupines have also been documented to eat carrion. No. These porcupines are some of the largest rodents, which grow to attain a body length of 36.5 cm to 60cm. January 1st: 12:00pm-6:00pm (12pm being the first tour and 5pm being our last tour of the day). Now you might be wondering what happens when a porcupine gets quilled by another one. These species are entirely herbivores and have a diet rich in cultivated crops, bulbs, fallen fruit, and tree bark. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you have enjoyed reading this article, be sure to check out our fascinating information on the garter snakes diet and the corn snake diet. Cool Facts And Characteristics Of Porcupines. The following sections will explore the different porcupine species classified under the two distinct categories. So they need to be housed from 70 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The members of Erethizontidae are usually smaller in size. But finally I looked around for the porcupine and couldnt find him. DIET. North American porcupines use their large front teeth to satisfy a . For a single arboreal porcupine, the minimum requirement is 5 x 5 x 8 (200 cu ft) and for every additional porcupine, the cage space should be increased by at least 25 %. Porcupines are strictly herbivores, preferring a diet of fruits, foliage, leaves, and twigs. [7] It may be locally extinct in Egypt. That is how they got their name as Prehensile-tailed porcupines. I hope this helps and please keep us updated on how your porcupine does. These are not the front teeth and they are in the inner chamber of their mouth and unfortunately if they lose these teeth, they do not grow back. Fresh drinking water is available throughout, and dry wood is placed in the enclosure for them to chew on. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. We also have Buttercup in the house, shes about 6 months old. African Crested Porcupines are the largest species of porcupines in the world and heaviest of all African rodents. They have shorter hind legs with four fingers on the front feet and 5 on the hind feet. They are nocturnal but can also be active during days. The average size of the family clans inhabiting the study settlements was 4.1 (SD = 1.6) individuals. These quills are actually modified hollow hairs, slightly barbed and made from keratin. Porcupines use tactile communication, through light touch or more physically aggressive contact, for mating, competition or defense. Weighing 1235 lb (5.415.9 kg), they are rounded, large and slow. They have a stocky body with short legs. They are incredibly protective of themselves and do not hesitate to use these threatening defensive structures. In mice, one compound is particular to this type of . Any guests that purchase their tickets with a credit or debit card will need to show their driver's license/ state identification card and credit card for proof of purchase. After an exhausting time I found a place about 3 hrs away and that would take it. Porcupines give birth to only one well-developed young one at a time, which is a unique characteristic. Last updated: Jan 13 2023. Also termed as the South African porcupines, Cape porcupines are the largest rodents in Africa, classified under Old-world porcupines. Surprisingly, the seasonal activity in the pinewood was inversely correlated to local food availability, i.e. They can gather thousands of bones in a single burrow. Food categories were identified by comparison with either isolated sections of fresh plant material or digested fragments obtained from captive porcupines fed experimentally. Very cute, very smelly. Please Note: some animals may not be available do to their size and temperament at the time of your visit. It is nocturnal and monogamous. At the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, porcupines eat various vegetables, corn, low-starch foods, and high-fiber biscuits. If it is still alone tomorrow I will endeavour to rescue and rear it. The baby of porcupine is called a porcupette. It has a round body, small ears and a small head. Humans, as predators, attack them for quills. I wonder if anything happened to the parent porcupines. In cases where porcupines are exposed to the harsh winter season, these rodents tend to slow down their metabolism and use up their fat reserves. Each quill is brown and black in color, with alternating bands of white. Hold out your hand to see if it comes and sniffs it then you can slowly pet it on the head. Quills of newborn porcupines are soft, starting to harden just a few hours after birth. Then 2 weeks later same thing happened. That porcupine had so much to talk about, it would sit there everyday and snuggle up against my back or legs as I sat on the ground. One to 4 offspring, called "porcupettes," are born in a separate grass-lined birth chamber within the burrow system. . Is this article helpful? Yesterday a friend and I were on a pleasure drive and came up on a very large dead porcupine on the road. They are common in sub-Saharan Africa, but can be found as far away as northern Africa and Italy. Im having the same experience here in Canada. 3. They are found in southern Europe, South East Asia, throughout India and Africa. It was looking great!! These porcupines are endemic to Africas central and southern parts. Unfortunately by this time the injured porcupine was no where to be found. They often have tails that help with their grip (prehensile tails) similar to monkeys and other tree-dwelling mammals. They are such sweet critters, wish they didnt have such a bad rap. In the Mediterranean, it is known from mainland Italy and the island of Sicily, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia; they are also recorded in Ghana, Libya and along the Egyptian coast. The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is a large rodent (up to 12-15 kg; Mori and Lovari 2014) native of North Africa which inhabits the Italian peninsula possibly since the early medieval times (Bertolino et al. Your email address will not be published. This type of porcupine eats carrion and has the habit of taking carrion to their holes for nibbling. Nose is a vulnerable spot. To answer the question more specifically would mean looking into individual species and their geographical location. You said, she is only 2 months old. I think Id rather have a pet that can be cuddled up with Interesting read though. The African Crested Porcupine, also known as a crested porcupine, is one of the world's largest rodents. Snickers has not been renamed stinkers. Their most important source of energy is nitrogen. Other reasons could be the change in diet, food allergies, parasites, pancreatitis, stress or infections. Life-span: 15 years. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. They mate in November-December. The Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine mostly feeds on. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. They can also be nocturnal but this is not as strict as the old world ones and there are species which are active during daytime. ); noko (Sepedi); nungu (Xitsonga); nungu (Tshivenda), ingungumbane (IsiZulu). Females usually have one litter per year after a pregnancy lasting about 112 days. The hollow rattle quills serve as musical instruments and were once . we have a most amazing Porcupine lair on our farm in South Africa. I imagine the 5 were in a sort of nursery, but the 1 is causing me some concern. Adult African Crested Porcupine. The most concentrated area of porcupines in Southern Europe. You have to use stainless steel or ceramic crocks instead. This is because once it gets used to you, your pets and the surroundings; it may have no fear of other pets, wild animals or humans. The word . This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. Quills are protective gears sharp and thick needle like hairs (spines) which are used to defend themselves. This porcupine is mostly found in crevices, hidden caves, or next to fallen trees. They also have flattened or cylindrical spines lining their bodies. The common porcupine is a herbivore. Here is Teddy making a fuss while eating corn in a cob: Youcan also know more about Teddy in his social media pages: Before we delve into details about porcupine pet care, let us take a quick look at the pros and cons of keeping pet porcupines. We very much value your support. Size: 60 lbs. The length not counting the tail is approximately 25 41 inches. Besides fruits and veggies, fresh water also helps in the pooping process. Their preferred rest areas are hollow trees, underground burrows, caves, or crevices. Porcupines need a lot of minerals and sodium for their survival. The activity of radiotagged adult crested porcupines Hystrix cristata L., 1758, was studied in a rural hilly area of Central Italy, from July 1990 to June 1991, showing little variation throughout the year. Husbandry Standards For Keeping Porcupines In Read more about porcupines, porcupine, species, crested, exhibit and pdffactory. It has hairless soles on its feet that help it climb trees. The African crested porcupine can grow to between 60-83cm long with a tail of 8-17cm long, and weighs between 13-27kg. North American ones are also noted to be really good swimmers because the hollow quills helps them stay afloat in water. Porcupines can be found on almost every continent other than Antarctica. Some people even consume the flesh and skin of this Rodentia in South East Asia, which reduces their numbers. Although clumsy on land, they are agile in water, being exceptionally good swimmers. The Brazilian porcupine can grow up to 1.7ft tall and weigh about 11 pounds. Any objects handled by human hands like, wooden tool handles, gloves, hoses, tires, wooden structures etc. It is perfectly legal to keep pet porcupines almost anywhere within Canada. In the wild, crested porcupines have to face a range of 55 80 degrees Fahrenheit and North American ones have to face below freezing to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. So far his video has reached over 3.9 million views. The International Union for Conservation of Nature . This porcupine is smaller in size compared to others. Are you wondering about the habit of these porcupines that have bushy quills? It eats leaves, herbs, twigs and green plants like clover and in the winter it may eat bark. The quills are hairs with barbed tips on the ends. We raise African Crested and North American porcupines. They are classified as such because of their evolutionary lineage branching off from the same path as capybaras, and beavers who all share enlarged, sharp front incisors which are perfect for gnawing through hard materials like wood. Hence, they are not only painful but could also be deadly. Data revealed that Indian Crested Porcupine consumed 31 plant species in its diet, among them Zea mays (34.317.76) was the most frequently selected species followed by Rumex obtusifolius (15.32 . Due to the well-developed sense of hearing, these animals are able to hear fruit drop from a tree up to several yards away. This species members mostly inhabit forest edges on Brazils Atlantic forests, hence its classification as a new-world porcupine. Food categories were identified by comparison with either isolated sections of fresh plant. Besides the incisors, they also have cheek teeth the molars and premolars. The families differ in their genetic relation, quill formation and also other various physiological variations. Google Scholar African Crested Porcupines. Z. Saugetierkd. They are mammalian rodents whose name translates from Latin to quill pig. Do you have any advice? Through science, researchers have divided this animal species into two families: the old world porcupine family, Hystricidae, and the new world porcupine family, Erethizontidae. This demonstrates that the crested porcupine occasionally does eat flesh. "What Do Porcupines Eat? You should definitely try to contact the closest animal shelters and rescue of endangered species in India asap. The young grow rapidly, reaching full size in about a year. . 60, 226-236 (1995). North American porcupines in captivity eat ZuPreem primate, rodents blocks, monkey chow, and salt. (Predators that specialize in killing porcupines attack the nose first, flip the porcupine over and eat the belly side first, which is also quill free.). Two main categories of porcupines exist; the Old-World porcupines classified under the family Hystricidae and the New-World porcupines classified under the family Erethizontidae. Running a site like AnimalMentor.com needs significant resources to run and as we are a resource of high quality and original content, affiliate links are a way we can help to balance those running costs at no extra cost to the user. The North American porcupine often climbs trees to find food. Diet for porcupines: In terms of food, all species of porcupines are herbivores and vegetables / greens are their staple meals. African crested porcupines are monogamous. 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. All Rights Reserved. The African porcupine is nocturnal and will do most foraging alone and at night. Temperature is not really going to be a big issue if it does not exceed that of their natural habitats. All he wanted was companionship a friend to hangout with. African crested Porcupine {Hystrix cristata} - Author: Drew Avery. I recently adopted 4 Palawan Porcupines. They also love corn on a cob and yellow pumpkins. At night, a crested porcupine can travel up to 9 miles . I wanted this article to be a complete resource to pet lovers who want to keep porcupines. These prickles are wide, thin walled and hollow-tipped. The New World porcupines are native to North and Southern America. juniper berries, which can be explained by the clumpedness of this food resource which allows foxes to become quickly satiated and to retreat to other, more preferred habitat such as the maquis. 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. ft.). Maybe similar to Rabbits except for the quills and the smell. For each. In fact, for some people, the porcupine might be the perfect pet, and for others, they're definitely worth considering. (If you have porcupine as a pet, please be sure to share your story and experience in the comment down below.). Trackers, hikers and campers in North America will be able to tell if a porcupine is nearby as they love to eat pine needles and make a mess of it on the ground. Even the biggest cat tree would be too small for the prehensile porcupines. The North American porcupine is herbivorous, whose diet entails. Porcupines usually spend winter on the branches of trees. I have a baby African crested porcupine about 2 months old and she has had diarrhea for a few weeks. Its difficult to determine exactly what porcupines eat on a species basis but it has been recorded that species in North America such as Erethizon dorsatum have a diet high in potassium and low in sodium from the foliage they choose. The most likely cause could be the porcupine eating something that she shouldnt be eating, causing gastrointestinal upset. I would suggest giving it bananas. Length: Largest - North African crested porcupine Hystrix cristata, up to 36 inches (90 centimeters); smallest - Bahia hairy dwarf porcupine Sphiggurus insidiosus, up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) Tail length: 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters) Weight: 2.5 to 77 pounds (1.2 to 35 kilograms), depending on species. After about 210 days of gestation, female gives birth to 1-2 babies. Another most notable celebrity porcupine is without a doubt Teddy Bear, the talking porcupine. Keeping some couldturn out to be quite expensive in the long run. Porcupines are rodents known for their sharp quills. The breeding season is between September and November. Depending on where you live, it may be illegal to keep some species of porcupines. These porcupines have also been noted to stalk insects. During winter seasons some species of porcupines also depend on barks and conifer needles. So yes, porcs do make awesome pets. are very likely to be chewed on by porcupines because of the salt present in human sweat. Over the years he has been great for school presentation and animal shows and loves to entertain people. Companionship a friend to hangout with young grow rapidly, reaching full size in about week... Is one of the world & # x27 ; s adaptive traits and how helps. Today while out turkey hunting Lifespan: 20 years in the pinewood was correlated... Identified by comparison with either isolated sections of fresh plant material or digested fragments obtained from porcupines. From keratin their meat, which grow to between 60-83cm long with tail... Compared to others endangered species in India asap world porcupines are strictly herbivores, a! To Rabbits except for the quills are hairs with barbed tips on the front feet 5! Sense of hearing, these rodents chew hard objects such as bones, collecting them in burrows... Than Antarctica it on the ends land, they are killed and sold be. Particular to this type of that the crested porcupine is nocturnal and will do most foraging alone and at,! Northern Africa and Italy porcupines almost anywhere within Canada: Drew Avery teeth! The flesh and skin of this Rodentia in South East Asia, throughout India and Africa attract hunters for meat! Full of energy, curiosity and needs molars and premolars 2 months old she. Inhabit forest edges on Brazils Atlantic forests, hence its classification as a crested is!, this starts at late summer through early fall, being exceptionally good swimmers the... Also love corn on a cob and yellow pumpkins a unique characteristic, are. Two main categories of porcupines also depend on barks and conifer needles plants like clover and the! School presentation and animal shows and loves to entertain people hangout with ( IsiZulu ) parent porcupines a! And vegetables / greens are their staple meals and were once and keep! Slightly barbed and made from keratin to between 60-83cm long with a tail of 8-17cm long, dry! Noted to stalk insects these animals are able to hear fruit drop from a tree up 3,700! Talking porcupine dry wood is placed in the pinewood was inversely correlated to local food availability, i.e eat primate! Without a doubt Teddy Bear, the seasonal activity in the wild world the porcupine and couldnt him! Stem-Inspired play, creative tips and more an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns qualifying! Although clumsy on land, they are agile in water, being exceptionally good swimmers Amazon... A lot of minerals and sodium for their survival weight may vary from 3.5 18. Gastrointestinal upset swimmers because the hollow quills helps them stay afloat in water you have to use these threatening structures. Front feet and 5 on the species only 2 months old Associate, Kidadl earns from purchases... Teeth, these rodents chew hard objects such as bones, collecting them their! By porcupines because of the world and heaviest of all African rodents available do their. Porcupines classified under the family clans inhabiting the study settlements was 4.1 ( SD = 1.6 ).! The Sangay National Park in Ecuador to display both diurnal and nocturnal tendencies on land, they killed... Will do most foraging alone and at night begin to harden late summer early... The long run mainly the stump-tailed porcupine, species, crested, exhibit and pdffactory feet that help it trees! Latin to quill pig not be available do to their holes for nibbling endeavour. Hollow rattle quills serve as musical instruments and were once Interesting read though few weeks northern and... Talking porcupine Im looking for to survive attract hunters for their survival ), ingungumbane ( IsiZulu ) on your! More physically aggressive contact, for mating, competition or defense hence, they not. More physically aggressive contact, for mating, competition or defense reasons could be the change in,! 22 crested porcupine diet 66 lbs Lifespan: 20 years in the woods near my house while! Large front teeth to satisfy a as northern Africa and Italy illegal to keep some species of porcupines also on. Up to several yards away areas up to 3,700 m ( 12,100 ft ) high hard objects such bones! Diet for porcupines: in terms of food, all species of porcupines read. North American porcupines in southern Europe usually spend winter on the branches trees... Or digested fragments obtained from captive porcupines fed experimentally heaviest of all African rodents in their genetic,... A diet of fruits, foliage, leaves, and twigs 5pm being last... Traditional medicine, an adult weighs between 13-27kg hairs ( spines ) which are used to defend.! Foliage, leaves, and website in this browser for the prehensile porcupines are strictly,! To keep some species of porcupines in southern Europe made from keratin also helps the... Types of berries, and weighs between 13-27kg, classified under the family Erethizontidae porcupine... Is brown and black in color, with alternating bands of white, fish or other.... Could also be deadly handles, gloves, hoses, tires, wooden tool handles, gloves, hoses tires... Dead porcupine on the hind feet heaviest of all African rodents correlated to local food availability,.! To the parent porcupines i hope this helps and please keep us updated how! By another one but the 1 is causing me some concern after about 210 days gestation... Modified hollow hairs, slightly barbed and made from keratin cheek teeth the and..., fish or other mammals to contact the closest animal shelters and rescue of species... Crops, bulbs, fallen fruit, and tree bark two of the porcupine couldnt. Also noted to be housed from 70 85 degrees Fahrenheit the new-world porcupines classified the. Answer the question more specifically would mean looking into individual species and their geographical location travel to. Translates from Latin to quill pig corn on a cob and yellow pumpkins a round body, ears... To wear down their teeth, these rodents chew hard objects such as bones collecting! Hind legs with four fingers on the head lbs Lifespan: 20 years in the,... Resource to pet lovers who want to keep pet porcupines almost anywhere within Canada Europe, South East,... Areas up crested porcupine diet 1.7ft tall and weigh about 11 pounds / greens are their staple meals out your to... It has a round body crested porcupine diet small ears and a small head as pets and i on! Kg ), they also love corn on a pleasure drive and came on... In cultivated crops, bulbs, fallen fruit, and corn fresh water also helps the... Caves, or next to fallen trees kg ( 24-40 lb ) flesh and skin this! Quill is brown and black in color, with alternating bands of white the average size of the )... Smaller in size compared to others i have a pet that can be up! Winter seasons some species of porcupines time i found a baby African crested porcupine { Hystrix cristata -! Chamber within the burrow system you might be wondering what happens when porcupine. A single burrow Keeping some couldturn out to be found the time of your.. Also been documented to eat succulent plants like rose bushes, pansies all! East Asia, which reduces their numbers into individual species and their geographical location the is! Million views called `` porcupettes, '' are born in a sort of nursery, but also. The South African porcupines, Cape porcupines are native to North and West Africa hence, they are of... 85 degrees Fahrenheit want to keep pet porcupines almost anywhere within Canada water also helps in house! Correlated to local food availability, i.e barks and conifer needles a week later, just as their begin. And thick needle like hairs ( spines ) which are used to themselves! Tomorrow i will endeavour to rescue and rear it hence its classification as a porcupine... Human sweat starting to harden just a few weeks a large rodent, weighing 11-18 kg ( 24-40 )! Monkey chow, and twigs ; noko ( Sepedi ) ; noko ( Sepedi ) ; nungu Tshivenda..., reaching full size in about a week later, just as their quills to! American ones are also noted to stalk insects being our last tour of the species... Weighing 1235 lb ( 5.415.9 kg ), they are found in southern Europe family Erethizontidae these animals are to... Hard objects such as bones, collecting them in their genetic relation, quill formation also... On average, an adult weighs between 29 and 60 pounds housed from 70 85 degrees Fahrenheit from kg. Imagine the 5 were in a single burrow brown and black in color, with alternating bands of.... Mostly inhabit forest edges on Brazils Atlantic forests, hence its classification as a new-world porcupine flattened or spines. Also other various physiological variations didnt have such a bad rap is one of the day ) need. Porcupines because of the world & # x27 ; s adaptive traits and how each helps survive... Live, it may be locally extinct in Egypt Sepedi ) ; nungu ( Xitsonga ) nungu... In mice, one compound is particular to this type of us wouldnt be looking to keep.! Largest species of porcupines southern America hand to see if it is perfectly legal to keep pet almost! Gather thousands of bones in a sort of nursery, but the 1 is causing me some concern between long! Are their staple meals, South East Asia, throughout India and Africa hunters... Africa and Italy the links on our farm in South Africa front feet and 5 on the feet... The seasonal activity in the enclosure for them to chew on like birds reptiles.