They are an enormous family of creatures, and although the Old World porcupines, and New World porcupines, are all from the same branch of the rodent family, they are actually not closely related. Cape porcupines, also called South African porcupines, are common throughout central and southern Africa. They collect bones which they gnaw on. [5] The average weight of males from Zimbabwe was 16.9 kg (37 lb) and while the average for females there was 18.4 kg (41 lb) while in the Orange river valley of South Africa males averaged 12.3 kg (27 lb) and females averaged 13 kg (29 lb). Five Fascinating facts about Cape Porcupines. 2005; Barthelmess 2016b). Facebook. 1-5 Interesting Facts About Porcupine 1. They prefer rocky hills and outcrops, as they must have shelter during the day. They live in small groups consisting of a monogamous pair and their young who share a den. Cape porcupines are the largest rodents in Africa and also the world's largest porcupines. Perth Zoo Crocodile Enjoys His First Meal After Winter, Orana Wildlife Park Welcome Back Sumatran Tigers, Holly the Rescued Wombat is a Christmas Miracle. New World and Old World porcupines occupy a wide range of habitats. The body is covered in long spines up to 50 centimetres (20 in) in length, interspersed with thicker, sharply pointed, defence quills up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long, and with bristly, blackish or brownish fur. Baboons do not form a major part of their diet. North American porcupines also eat fruit, leaves, and springtime buds. In general, porcupines live in just about any terrain, including deserts, grasslands, mountains, rainforests and forests. Habitat. Download Zoo Map. They also build dens which can … The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T10748A115099085. It is very common in semi-deserts, grasslands, savannahs and open woodlands. Cape porcupines are one of the world’s largest porcupine species. Distribution and habitat. Porcupine habitats range from deserts, forests and grasslands. They inhabit a wide range of habitats, from sea level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), although they are only marginally present in dense forests and the driest of deserts, and are not found in swampland. [5] However, their debarking of trees may also play a role in the maintenance of local savannah ecosystems, helping to prevent the development of denser forested environments. The Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) or South African porcupine, is a species of Old World porcupine native to central and southern Africa. They are a large species of rodent covered by black, but mostly white spines, used for protection and can … Cape porcupines mate throughout the year, although births are most common during the rainy season, between August and March. Here they are found across the south and central areas of the continent. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T10748A22232321.en. They often take cover in aardvark holes or caves. These make them appear twice as large when raised. They can be found from areas at sea level to 2000 m above where there is vegetation. Kilimanjaro, as high up as 3,500 meters (11,480 feet). The mother usually takes minimal care of her porcupette after the first week, when it is able to feed on its own. Young cape porcupines will begin to try solid food at one month old. Other porcupine species live in Africa, Europe, and Asia. The Internet connection is missing right now, but you're able to browse previously opened pages offline. Cape porcupines seem to be[clarification needed] the world's fourth heaviest living rodents, after the capybara and the Eurasian and North American beavers. The porcupette eventually leaves its mother after six months. Cape porcupines eat mostly plant material: fruits, roots, tubers, bulbs, and bark. They can be found in high and low elevations, and in a variety of conditions. Africa is the native home of the cape porcupine. Indian porcupines are almost the same size on average as well, being slightly heavier on average than crested porcupine but slightly lighter than Cape porcupines. They can be found in altitudes up to 12,100 ft. high. They can stab an attacker with these quills to defend themselves. When it is cold the group will huddle in their burrow for warmth. When born, their quills are soft and sensitive bristles. 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… [12] The size of the home range varies depending on the local habitat and availability of food, but can range between at least 67 and 203 hectares (170 and 500 acres).[5]. Cape Porcupine. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T10748A22232321.en. It will be another three to five months after weaning before the mother gives birth again. Both the male and female cape porcupines grow to about two feet long and weigh up to 60 pounds. [5], This article is about an African porcupine. One habitat which is avoided are swamps. Some porcupines inhabit rocky regions up to 3,500 metres (11,000 feet) high. Cassola, F. 2016. By Steven Lek (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Porcupines are most common in hilly, rocky country, but they can adapt to most habitats — excessively moist forests and the most barren of deserts seem to be the only exceptions. They are the largest rodent in Africa and the largest of the porcupines. Porcupine or Cape Porcupine [Hystrix africaeaustralis] Appearance. Oestrus lasts for an average of nine days, during which a membrane across the vagina opens to allow insemination. Dig holes that open up soil surface, allowing water to seep into ground and new plants to grow (Bragg et al. [3][4] 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). These harden as they grow. Hystrix africaeaustralis (errata version published in 2017). There are no currently recognised subspecies. From the head to the base of it’s tail, a cape porcupine measures between 63 and 81cm (25 and 32in) long. Predators of the cape porcupine include big cats, hyenas and large birds. As a result, their habit of fatally ring-barking trees has a … [2], They are heavily built animals, with stocky bodies, short limbs, and an inconspicuous tail. Weaning does not occur till between their third and fourth month. They reach their full size by the end of their first year of life. Cape porcupines are found across the whole of southern and central Africa, to southern Kenya, Uganda, and Congo at the northern edge of their range. Walk among free-flight birds, towering saguaros and watch the racing roadrunners. During the day, they will either build their own den or shelter in a cave or crevice. In some areas they are known to eat carrion. Predators of the cape porcupine include big cats. The feet have five clawed toes, although the first toes on the forefeet are vestigial. Contrary to popular belief, a porcupine cannot shoot its spines and quills. Sexual size monomorphism in the crested porcupine (. [9] They have also been reported to gnaw on carrion and bones. When threatened, the Cape porcupine erects its spines and quills to look bigger. Dens in tree branches or tangles of roots, rock crevices, brush or logs are the porcupine's home. Males and females are similar in size. Porcupines build dens that can have a living chamber of 20 m and 2 m deep. temperate. They are highly adaptable and can survive just about anywhere that vegetation is available. They prefer rocky hills and outcrops, as they must have shelter during the day. Rodents are mammals including rats, mice, porcupines, beavers, and more. [2] 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. Burnie, D.; Wilson, D. E. The quills are modified hairs and if they fall out they will grow back. Twitter. A litter can range from 1 to 4 offspring. The rest of the body is coated with dark fur. The porcupine species found within the Kruger National Park and within Southern Africa is known as the Cape Porcupine, the largest porcupine species on Earth. Scott (BM12), a dominant male leopard in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, stalking a porcupine. Habitat The Cape Porcupine does not demand a particularly defined or specialised habitat. They have even been found on Mt. [13] Newborn young weigh 300 to 440 grams (11 to 16 oz), and initially have soft quills. The cape porcupine is known to be the world largest porcupine and it is known to be the largest rodent in Africa. They are more likely to be found in open rather than wooded areas, though, and seek out rocky crevices and caves for shelter. These are born in a grass lined chamber which the parents make in their den. ( Nowak, 1999; Smithers, 1983; Storch, 1990) Habitat Regions. Rodents make up about 40% of all the mammal species on Earth. The beaver is the only rodent in North America that is larger than the North American porcupine. Their most noticeable feature is the quills and spines which extend from their back. COMMON NAME: Cape Porcupine SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hystrix africaeaustralis TYPE: Mammal DIET: Herbivore GROUP NAME: Prickle. On each foot is five toes each with a claw. Porcupines feed on roots, bulbs and bark. [13] After mating, a copulatory plug forms, which is expelled about 48 hours later. "Reproductive biology of the male Cape porcupine, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cape_porcupine&oldid=967452516, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from June 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 13 July 2020, at 09:53. The spines and quills cover the back and flanks of the animal, starting about a third of the way down the body, and continuing onto the tail. Cape porcupines are omnivores. They may also hide in a burrow and puff their quills out to full size. Porcupines reside in natural shelters near roots and rocks, inside holes made by each other or holes they dig themselves. Rodents, such as our African crested porcupines, have ever growing front teeth (called incisors). Cape porcupine considered an ecosystem engineer because of its foraging habits. Porcupine Habitat African porcupines prefer rocky outcrops and hills as their habitat, needing shelter in the day. They can inhabit a wide range of habitats from tropical forests to deserts. Cape Porcupines are found from sea level to 2000 m above sea level in most areas with vegetation. They have a long small intestine and large caecum, employing hindgut fermentation to break down the tough materials in their food. Reproduction Characteristics: Cape porcupines are one of the world’s largest porcupine species. Diet: African spurred porcupines are primarily herbivores, or … Email. Some New World species are arboreal, which means that they live in the trees. The quills of the cape porcupine are the longest in the world. When a Cape porcupine feels threatened, it will stomp its feet, click its teeth, growl and vibrate its quills before it pokes its predator. Both the male and female African Porcupines weigh from 10 to 24 kilograms (22 to 53 pounds) with very large specicimens weighing up to 30 kg (66 lb). The quills have multiple bands of black and white along their length, and grow from regularly spaced grooves along the animal's body; each groove holding five to eight quills. Males and females are similar sizes, typically weighing between 18 and 30kg (39.7 and 66lb). They also build dens which can be up to 20m long with a 2m deep living chamber. To defend themselves they will freeze. Hystrix africaeaustralis (errata version published in 2017). Facts About the Porcupine. Its proportions are not as attractive as its animal itself. Here they are found across the south and central areas of the continent. The Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis)- or the old world porcupines are members of the “Shy Five” Appearance. Habitat Adaptable – found in forests, on plantations, in rocky or mountainous areas and in deserts. They often take shelter in caves or antbear holes. The female gives birth after seven months—a long time for a small mammal—and her single young is born well-developed, with quills that harden within an hour of birth. (eds. On the tail are hollow spines which allow them to make a rattling by shaking them. About Animal Facts. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T10748A115099085. They weigh from 10 to 24 kilograms (22 to 53 pounds), with exceptionally large specimens weighing up to … Pinterest. They often take shelter in caves or antbear ( Orycteropus afer) holes. Pairs will mate for life with both parents involved in the care of the offspring. Plant material takes up most of its diet and it typically feeds on bark, roots, bulbs, tubers and fruit. The Cape Porcupine measures 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). However, the spines and quills can embed in an intruder’s flesh if they come into contact. They feed upon roots, tubers, fruit, bark and cultivated crops. The cape porcupine is a nocturnal animal. [15] They are weaned at around 100 days of age,[13] and grow rapidly for the first twenty weeks, reaching the full adult size, and sexual maturity, at the end of their first year. Part of their ability to have a wide range is a tolerance for both hot and cold. Otherwise, the porcupine may retreat into its burrow, exposing only its quills and making it hard to dislodge. Part of their ability to have a wide range is a tolerance for both hot and cold. Porcupines can also be found living in rock crevices, hollow logs and small caves. One habitat which is avoided are swamps. Cape porcupines are found across the whole of southern and central Africa, to southern Kenya, Uganda, and Congo at the northern edge of their range. An erectile crest of long, bristly hairs runs from the top of the head down to the shoulders. Porcupine courtship is elaborate and noisy. Each pair may inhabit up to six burrows, jointly defending their shared territory,[11] although they typically forage as individuals. When the female comes into estrus (heat) in late fall, her scent can attract numerous suitors who may fight for hours to win her favor. Habitat: Highly adaptable, living anywhere vegetation is available.They are more likely to be found in open spaces rather than wooded areas, and they seek out rocky crevices, abandoned burrows and caves for shelter. They are often considered pests by local farmers, because they can feed on crops and damage trees. Africa is the native home of the cape porcupine. Unless a previous litter is lost, females typically give birth only once each year. Distribution and habitat. At birth the average weight of the newborn is 311g (11oz). During the day they will often go out foraging on their own. These are long and measure up to 30cm (11.8in) long for quills and 50cm (20in) for spines. [5], The eyes and ears are relatively small, and the mobile whiskers are short. 35.627510781751, -79.757441394032. Different species can found in desert habitats, various forests, hillsides, mountains, and rocky cliffs. The Cape porcupine is found in many different habitats, and the only areas it seems to avoid are very dense forests, the driest deserts and swamplands. This locks them in the den so they are not able to be dislodged. Although they are born with their incisor teeth fully erupted, the remaining teeth begin to appear at 14 days, with the full set of adult teeth present by 25 months. Over half of litters are single births. The Desert is a glass-domed building designed to recreate an arid, colorful desert. [1][8] There are no currently recognised subspecies. If cornered, it turns vicious and charges to stab its attacker with its quills. Cape Porcupine, Newfoundland and Labrador, "Aspects of the digestion in the Cape porcupine", "Reproduction in captive female Cape porcupines (. Habitat. [5] They weigh from 10 to 24 kilograms (22 to 53 pounds), with exceptionally large specimens weighing up to 30 kg (66 lb);[6][7] males and females are not significantly different in size. A group may maintain up to 6 burrows which they move between. Females have two pairs of teats.[5]. If attacked they move sideways and backwards to dig their quills in to the attacker. They are hunted by farmers when they dig up crops. Cape porcupines achieve sexual maturity at 2 years old in females and between 8 and 18 months for males. Breeding takes place between May and December in the wild while in captivity they will breed year-round. Cape Porcupine facts – The Cape porcupine is believed to grow up to about one meter long and it weighs 20 kilograms. Porcupine Mountains Music Festival; from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs administered through the Copper Country Community Arts Council... U.P. Some species of New World porcupines live in trees, however, Old World porcupines are exclusively terrestrial (ground dwellers). [14], Gestation lasts around 94 days, and results in the birth of a litter of up to three young, although over half of births are of singletons. [10], Cape porcupines are nocturnal and monogamous, typically living as mated pairs of adults, caring for any young together. They inhabit a wide range of habitats, from sea level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), although they are only marginally present in dense forests and the driest of deserts, and are not found in swampland. The trees of habitats from tropical forests to deserts their den to grow Bragg. Lasts for an average of nine days, during which a membrane the! 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