Crested Porcupine(Hystrix cristata)
The crested
porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is a species of rodent in the
Hystricidae family. It is extant in mainland Italy, Sicily, North
Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.
Physical Attributes
Hystrix cristata is part of the family Hystricidae. The more common
name for this species is the crested porcupine. The crested porcupine
has an average head and body length of about 600-900 mm. Almost the
entire body is covered with bristles which are either dark brown or
black and rather coarse. This mammal is recognizable by the quills
that run along the head, nape, and back that can be raised into a
crest. Hence the name crested porcupine. There are also some sturdier
quills which are about 350 mm in length and run along the sides and
back half of the body. These sturdier quills are used, for the most
part, for defense and are usually marked with light and dark bands
which alternate, these are not firmly attached. This porcupine has a
shorter tail which has rattle quills at the end. The rattle quills
broaden at the terminal end and the broad portion is hollow with thin
walls. When these quills are vibrated they produce a hiss-like rattle.
The front feet of the crested porcupine have four developed and clawed
digits with a regressed thumb, the rear feet have five. The paws have
naked and padded soles and have a plantigrade gait. The ears are
external and both the eyes and ears are very small with long vibrissae
on its head. The skull is specific in many ways, first the
infraorbital foramen is greatly enlarged so that portions of the
masseter extend through it and attach from the frontal side surface of
the snout. Second the angular process is inflected on the lower jaw,
thirdly the nasal cavity is enlarged. Prominent pockets create
enlarged areas of attachment for chewing muscles. Collar bones are
very much reduced, and there are one incisor, one premolar and three
molars.
Food and digestion
SkullThe Crested porcupine is for the most part herbivorous, eating
roots, bulbs, crops. But occasionally they do consume insects, small
vertebrates and carrion. In order to ingest calcium and sharpen
incisors they often gnaw on bones. These animals often travel long
distances looking for food. They have high crowned teeth that grind
plant cells which are digested in the stomach and the undigested
fibers are retained in an enlarged appendix and anterior large
intestine where they are broken down by microorganisms.
Reproduction
Most of what we know about reproduction in the crested porcupine comes
from individuals in captivity. Usually female crested porcupines 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 young weigh
about 1000g at birth, which is about three percent of the mothers
weight. They leave the den after one week. At this time the spines
begin to harden. Crested porcupines reach adult weight at one to two
years and are often sexually mature just before then.
Behavior
The crested porcupine is a terrestrial mammal; they very seldom climb
trees, but can swim. They are nocturnal and monogamous. The crested
porcupine takes care of the young for a long time and small family
groups consist of the adult pair and young of various ages. In
defense, when disturbed they raise and fan their quills to make
themselves look bigger. If continually bothered, the crested porcupine
will stamp its feet, whirr the quills, and charge the disturber back
end first trying to stab the enemy with the thicker, shorter quills.
These attacks are known to have killed lions, leopards, hyenas, and
even humans.
Population
There are eight species in the genus Hystrix, only two of which are
found outside of Asia. The crested porcupine is widespread in Africa
and Italy. Although it is favored in many parts of its range as food,
its conservation status is set at least concern.
Range
The crested porcupine is found in Italy, North Africa and sub-Saharan
Africa. In the Mediterranean it is known from mainland Italy and the
island of Sicily, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia; there are also records
from Libya, and along the Egyptian coast. It has been recorded from
sea level to 2550 m in Moroccan Anti Atlas. It is sometimes asserted
that the porcupine was introduced to Italy by the Romans, but fossil
and sub fossil remains suggest it was possibly present in Europe in
the Upper Pleistocene.
Countries
These are the countries from which the crested porcupine is known:
Native: Algeria; Angola; Benin; Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Chad; Côte
d'Ivoire; Ecuador; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea-Bissau;
Italy; Kenya; Liberia; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Mali; Mauritania;
Morocco; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia;
Sudan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Togo; Tunisia; Uganda
Possibly extinct: Egypt
Presence uncertain: Central African Republic; Congo Map of Range from Red List