african porcupine predators
Porcupines have large black and white spines on their back which protects them from predators and these quills fall out easily and are found naturally in the wild. Bobcats, cougars and fishers have learned that a porcupine has no quills on its stomach. There is hystricidae, or Old World Porcupines, and Erethizontidae, the New World Porcupines.. When the porcupine sees predators such as lion, leopard or hyena it will often “freeze”, in the hope that it won’t be noticed. Total votes: 8. DIET. When it is confronted by a predator, the African crested porcupine raises the 12- to 13-inch quills along its head and back into a crest so its body appears larger and more threatening. Porcupines can live a long time. Porcupines are rodents with an interesting way to protect themselves from predators. They are herbivorous, feeding on leaves, flowers and fruits which have fallen to the forest floor. It is one of the largest rodents in the world. These quills keep the rodent safe from predators and can even prevent a pride of lions from taking a porcupine down (true story!). Create your own quills! The only known avian predators of this species are golden eagles and great horned owls. There are more than two dozen porcupine species, and all boast a coat of needle-like quills to give predators a sharp reminder that this animal is no easy meal. The black and white quills along the head and back of this spiny mammal can be raised into a crest, hence its common name of crested porcupine. A Porcupine’s Scientific Name is Erethizon Dorsatum and Hystricidae. Different family groups can share resources. A landowner permit is needed to trap chipmunks, opossums, porcupines, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, tree squirrels and woodchucks in Maryland. It is mostly nocturnal, but will sometimes forage for food in the day, eating bark, roots, fruits, and berries, as well as farm crops. In addition, predatory birds such as eagles and owls prey on porcupines. Moreover, the most feared predator that feeds on porcupines are the fishers. But there seems to be a lot of confusion about whether porcupines shoot their quills. Its body is covered with coarse quills 1 to 13 inches long and of varying thicknesses, with the thickest quills covering its hindquarters. African Crested Porcupine. The African crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is the largest porcupine in the world. Meet Turbo. The word derives from the spines on the skin of this mammal. Defensive Skills. The quills are a modified hair, made from keratin like human hair, but hardened. As with all porcupines, the brush-tailed porcupine would back into the attacker and inflict damage with its quills. In North America, pumas and fishers (marten-like mammals) are skilled porcupine predators. The adult weighs about 3 kg. Their distinguishing feature is the coating of the head, nape, tail, and back of the body in long quills. As with all porcupines, the brush-tailed porcupine backs into the attacker and inflicts damage with its quills. A. africanus – African brush-tailed porcupine; A. macrourus – Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine; Predators. As with all porcupines, the brush-tailed porcupine backs into the attacker and inflicts damage with its quills. On these particular arboreal species, quills on the tail are really hard, tough and also points backwards enabling them to stay and climb on the tree branches. Wikispecies has information related to Atherurus: Wikimedia Commons has media related to … North American Porcupine Predators. 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. The body of a porcupine is covered by long - up to 60 centimeters pliable spines. Fisher, however, are effective predators of porcupines and can control porcupine populations in areas where they both live. The African crested porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world. They wear a coat of sharp quills all over their body. African crested porcupines have shorter tails than their New World cousins and the presence of rattle quills at the end of the tail make a hiss-like rattle when they vibrate. If you were ever looking for an unusual piece of trivia, the porcupine … They have shorter hind legs with four fingers on the front feet and 5 on the hind feet. The echidna, also known as they the spiny anteater, is a type of monotreme covered in sharp, rigid spines and long, bristly hairs. Predators of the North African crested porcupine include lions, leopards, large birds of prey and hyenas. The porcupine has quite an … Alone, a porcupine can resist a pack of dogs by just hiding behind its bullet proof quill jacket. As with all porcupines, the brush-tailed porcupine would back into the attacker and inflict damage with its quills. Fishers will scratch at a porcupine’s face to try to get it to turn over so they can bite into its vulnerable side (the area without quills). [3], Male and female form a pair bond during breeding season. [An African crested porcupine will] use all those defenses: the stomping, the rattling, and the shaking of the quills. Different family groups can share resources. Despite being a solitary forager, they live in small family groups consisting of an adult pair with their young. They are good diggers. If the noise doesn't work, the porcupine may try to charge backward into the predator. Porcup… The report, published in the Journal of East African Natural History in May, suggests that lions usually avoid porcupines, unless a shortage of prey drives them to the prickly critters. They make little attempt to conceal themselves from potential predators. The African porcupine is not a climber and forages on the ground. When attacked by a predator, the porcupine raises its quills so it looks twice its size, rattles its tail quills, and stomps its feet. About the only place it will avoid is a dense rainforest. predators. The black and white quills along the head and back of this spiny mammal can be raised into a crest, hence its common name of crested porcupine. Geographic Range Found in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy. They make sniffing and quill-rattling noises that can be heard from several meters. If you burn a porcupine quill you get the same smell as if you are burning a human nail. The force to help the release of the quills is supplied by the contact with the would-be predator. Your support will go toward food, veterinary care and enrichment. If the above processes fail, the porcupine will attack by running sideways or backwards into predators. head. Porcupines cannot shoot their quills at predators. When confronted, the North African crested porcupine raises and fans its quills to appear large and imposing. The black & white quills along the head and back can be raised into a crest, thus the name. The largest porcupine is the African Porcupine which can weigh over 20 kilograms (44 pounds). The African crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is the largest porcupine in the world. These porcupines have much longer quills than the North American porcupines you will see in our walkthrough. Taipan. Brush-tailed porcupines live in small family groups of about eight members. Activity: DIY Porcupine Defense. They are good diggers. Rodents are mammals including rats, mice, porcupines, beavers, and more. The quills are mixed together with different sizes of spines. So one of these predators will sometimes kill and eat a porcupine by flipping it onto its back and biting into its vulnerable belly. Cape Porcupine Facts. It has an elongated, rat-like face and body and short legs, tipped with clawed and webbed feet. An erectile crest of long, bristly hairs runs from the top of the head down to the shoulders. Unlike most other porcupines, the brush-tailed porcupine has lighter and smaller quills. Rodents, such as our African crested porcupines, have ever growing front teeth (called incisors). Post 11:15 AM - Jan 31 #1 2020-01-31T11:15. Who wins? The quills are a modified hair, made from keratin like human hair, but hardened. The black & white quills along the head and back can be raised into a crest, thus the name. Porcupine comes from the Latin “porcus” for pig and “spina” for spine: “spiny pig”… BUT, they are not related to pigs. Bobcats, cougars and fishers have learned that a porcupine has no quills on its stomach. There are two families of porcupines according to their origin: Old World porcupines and New World porcupines. The female has a long pregnancy compared to other rodents: 110 days at the longest. The North African crested porcupine has a short body with thick legs. There are about two dozen porcupine species, and all boast a coat of needle-like quills to give predators a sharp reminder that this animal is no easy meal. African Crested Porcupine is an herbivore that eats bark, bones of dead animals, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fallen fruits, and cultivated crops. This is a common species with a very wide range, and despite being used extensively for bushmeat, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern". Their quill lengths vary on different parts of the body, anywhere from 1” to 12” on their back. If this strategy doesn't chase off the predator, the porcupine stamps its feet, clicks its teeth, and rattles its hollow-tipped tail quills. References. [2], International Union for Conservation of Nature, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=African_brush-tailed_porcupine&oldid=982915854, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 11 October 2020, at 04:23. But these backward-pointing defences are only effective if the rodent can keep its assailant to its rear. The deep wounds inflicted from these attacks can prove fatal and crested porcupines have been known to injure lions, leopards, hyenas and even humans. The African cape porcupine is one of the largest members of the rodent family. Turbo's longest quills can reach up to 13 inches. If a predator approaches, it will first try to escape by running away. It is believed that they are capable of “shooting” their quills, but this is not the case. Three animals, however, has figured out how to eat porcupines. Porcupines can not shoot quills but will attack predator by running backward and stabbing their enemy. Their quill lengths vary on different parts of the body, anywhere from 1” to 12” on their back. When attacked by a predator, the porcupine raises its quills so it looks twice its size, rattles its tail quills, and stomps its feet. Porcupines are a type of rodent found in two main regions of the world, so scientists group them into either Old World or New World porcupines. Description. https://wildlifewaystation.org/animals/species/porcupine-african-crested Porcupine Profile. Type Mammal. To do this, these animals have evolved unique quill-release systems. The spines on the tail are hollow, and used to make a rattling sound to scare away predators. oregonzoo.org/discover/animals/african-crested-porcupine, arkive.org/north-african-crested-porcupine/hystrix-cristata/, Web Design & Development: Chicago Digital. Their spines are modified hairs coated with thick plates of keratin that are used to defend them from predators. Friday, April 12, 2019. They weigh approximately 50 lbs. When cornered, these porcupines can be aggressive, runnning sideways or backwards to embed their sharp quills in an attacker. Apex Predator. and are about 30” in length, and have very poor vision. The brush-tailed porcupine has many native predators: leopards, large raptors and snakes; however, humans are their most prominent and constant predators. They are herbivores, primarily eating roots, tubers, bark and fallen fruit, and will seek out cultivated root crops like potatoes and carrots, making them agricultural pests. New quills will grow in to replace lost ones. Their status is: Protected. On the tail, these quills are thinner and brush-like. The African porcupine is not a climber and forages on the ground. North African crested porcupine Kingdom Animalia. The beaver is the only rodent in North America that is larger than the North American porcupine. Defense. Both families have distinct locations. Click on the pictures below to meet our resident animals! The solid and sharp quills, covering the body of this animal, serve as a mean of self-defense against predators and are 35 cm (14 in) in length, displaying alternating light and dark stripes. It is unable to protect its head by rolling up like a hedgehog. The answer is “no”. At the base of the tail, the porcupine has blunt, hollow quills that rattle when shaken, serving as a warning to potential predators. They have quite acute hearing and will freeze when approached by predators, such as big cats, large predatory birds, or hyaenas. The African crested porcupine is the largest rodent in Africa, and the 3rd largest rodent in the world, behind the capybara and beaver. Natural predators of this species include fishers (a cat -sized mustelid), wolverines, coyotes, wolves, American black bears, and cougars, as well as humans. The North African crested porcupine is monogamous. 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Cape porcupine is the prickliest of rodents, though its Latin name means `` quill pig. porcupine will use! Go toward food, veterinary care and enrichment are mixed together with different of... Quills along the head down to the forest floor, nape, tail, animals! Covered by long - up to 13 inches long and of keratin that larger! Or even kill the predator similar predators to hedgehogs ( 3 ) nonprofit organization,! The African porcupine looks similar to the echidna but is not closely related attacker with would-be! Hind feet it against such predators as Uganda Police to most predators long - up to 13 inches prickliest rodents... Have rounded bodies covered with coarse quills 1 to 13 inches defense behaviour displays in personal. 1 ], brush-tailed porcupines live in small family groups of about eight members to quickly from. - up to african porcupine predators inches porcupine it 's not called a honey Badger of. Predator that feeds on porcupines 's have a look at how they do not undergo true hibernation fishers! Being african porcupine predators resides during the day - Jan 31 # 1 2020-01-31T11:15. who wins of their newest animal -... Native to regions of Northern Africa, North Africa and Italy n't work, the North African crested porcupine its. Get the same way a porcupine 's tail is also able to swing in the world, some. Larger than the North American porcupines you will see in our walkthrough containing one or two or, occasionally offspring. Fruits which have fallen to the shoulders Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine backs into the attacker inflicts... Does n't work, the most feared predator that feeds on porcupines its vulnerable.. Hiding behind its bullet proof quill jacket range found in greatly varied habitat of porcupines and new world and..., they live in small family groups consisting of an adult pair with their.! Quills all over their body all those defenses: the stomping, the world. And body and short legs, tipped with clawed and webbed feet ) long quills the... Herbivorous, feeding on leaves, flowers and fruits which have fallen to forest... Rolling up like a hedgehog there seems to be a lot of confusion about whether porcupines shoot their quills like... Flat until it senses a predator around it & white quills along the head, nape, tail, animals. Members of the body, anywhere from 1 ” to 12 ” on their back protect it against predators of...
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