African Crested Porcupine
BEHAVIOR
African Crested Porcupines (scientific name: Hystrix cristata) live in small family groups consisting of an adult pair with their young. Together they live in an intricate burrow system. These porcupines are nocturnal and will spend much of the night in search of food, usually alone or in small groups.
COLOR PATTERN
- Black and white quills up to 14 inches long
- Short black tail with rattle quills
- Long black and white spines up to 20 inches long
- Quills marked with light and dark bands that alternate
WHERE WE LIVE
African Crested Porcupines are found in Italy, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. They are known to be found from mainland Italy to the island of Sicily, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia as well as Ghana, Libya and along the Egyptian coast.
WEIGHT
African Crested Porcupine
22-66 pounds
Large Bag of Dog Food
50 pounds
50 pounds
LENGTH
African Crested Porcupine 24-36 inches long
A Man’s Stride 36 inches long
Bonus
African Crested Porcupine Fourth largest rodent in the world
Capybaras Largest rodent in the world
WHAT WE EAT
HERBIVORE
- Bark
- Roots
- Rhizomes
- Fallen fruits
- Cultivated crops
Their long claws help them dig up roots and tubers
THREATS
- Hunting
African Crested Porcupines are often illegally hunted for their meat - Quill collecting
African Crested Porcupine quills have long been thought to be a good luck charm in African culture - Least Concern
Did you know…
There are
23
species of porcupines!
Did you know…
African porcupine quills can be up to
20
inches long!
Did you know…
Porcupines are just
11
Ounces when they are born
