Posts Tagged ‘porcupine’

Happy Birthday, Pooka! Today is Pooka’s 1st birthday!

He is one of our African Crested Porcupines. The crested porcupine is a species of rodent from various parts of Africa.  They are terrestrial; they very seldom climb trees, but can swim.  They are nocturnal and monogamous.  When bottle-raised they can be very sweet and follow you like a puppy, or very demanding, or both :)  These guys are the largest and heaviest rodent in Africa.

Pooka’s favorite food is carrots!

Here are some interesting things to know about the African Crested Porcupine

Anatomy
These porqs can get up to 60 pounds and can live 15 years.  They are recognizable by the long,  thin quills that run along the head, nape, and back that can be raised into a crest.  There are also sturdier quills which run along the sides and back half of the body.  These sturdier quills are used for defense and are usually marked with light and dark bands which alternate. These are not firmly attached.

This porcupine has a short tail which has rattle quills at the end.  The rattle quills are hollow.  When these quills are vibrated they produce a hiss-lik rattle.  If continually bothered, the crested porcupine will stamp its feet, whirr the quills, and charge the disturber back end firt trying to stab the enemy with the thicker, shorter quills.

Their teeth grow constantly.  To keep them from growing out of control they eat non-stop.  As a rodent, they are able to chew through almost anything!

Reproduction
Most of what is known about reproduction in the crested porcupine comes from individuals in captivity.  In the wild, females usually have one litter every year.  One or two very well developed young are born in a chamber within the burrow that is usually lined with grass, but only after a 66 day gestation period, on average.  The babies leave the den after one week.  At this time the spines begin to harden.  Crested porcupines are sexually mature between 1-2 years of age.  Burrows are often extensive and used for many years.  In captivity, breeding occurs year round and babies must be pulled immediately to avoid being eaten by the parents.  No on really knows why they eat their young.

Diet
The crested porcupine is for the most part herbivorous, eating roots, bulbs, crops.  But occasionally they do consume insects, small vertebrates and carrion

Fun Facts

• African crested porcupine attacks are known to have killed lions, leopards, hyenas, and even humans!
• Porcupine quills are often used as ornaments and talismans.
• The meat of these animals is considered a delicacy, and thus they are illegally hunted.
• The word porcupine means “quill pig” in Latin; however, they are not related to pigs at all.