The porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) is a rodent covered in long, sharp spines, most of them white-tipped with a black ring, which it can raise using its muscles. It is a nocturnal vegetarian, and on a Kruger National Park safari its dropped quills are found far more often than the porcupine itself.
Name
Porcupine [Hystrix africaeaustralis]
Appearance
Porcupines are a type of rodent that have long sharp spines sticking out of their bodies. They have muscles that allow it to lift the spines. Their spines are white at the tips with a black ring on most spines. The body of the Porcupine is covered in black-brown coarse hair. It has large ears and fur resembling the spines running from its head like a Mohawk.
Diet
Porcupines are vegetarians that use their claws to dig up roots, tubers and bulbs to eat. They are fond of fruits and will also sometimes gnaw on bark. Their intestine and appendix contain microorganisms that can break down plant fibres easily. They have been recorded eating carrion in some instances. Porcupines will often gnaw on bones and bark and have been known to keep piles of bones in their dens.
Breeding
Males reach sexual maturity between 8 and 18 months and females reach sexual maturity between 9 and 16 months. Mating for porcupines is rather dangerous with the spines in the way. Females will present to the male to initiate copulation. Gestation lasts about 3 months, afterwards a litter of 1 to 4 babies are born. During the wet months, porcupines will keep their litter in a grass lined chamber. The young have soft spines and quills when born that help with birth, as soon as the spine come into contact with air, they start to harden.
Behaviour
Porcupines will snort and hiss when threatened, raising their quills. Porcupines can travel on their own or be seen in small family groups. These animals are nocturnal, coming out at night to feed. The big ears of a porcupine contribute to their acute sense of hearing, freezing when approached by predators. When threatened, the porcupine will resort to walking sideways and backwards to attack with its spines. It also climbs into holes with their quills sticking out to protect it and to prevent predators from dislodging them from their holes. They have special hollow quills that make a rattling, hissing sound when shook. Most of the time you can find quills on the ground and rarely the porcupine during a Kruger Park Safari.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do porcupines eat?
Porcupines use their claws to dig up roots, tubers and bulbs, and they are fond of fruit. They also gnaw on bark and bones, and have been known to keep piles of bones in their dens.
How does a porcupine defend itself?
When threatened, a porcupine walks sideways and backwards to attack with its spines, and rattles special hollow quills to make a hissing sound. It also climbs into holes with its quills sticking out, so predators cannot pull it out.
How many babies do porcupines have?
After a gestation of about 3 months, a porcupine gives birth to a litter of 1 to 4 young. During the wet months the litter is kept in a grass-lined chamber, and the babies’ soft spines and quills start to harden once they meet the air.
Do porcupines live alone?
Not always. Porcupines can travel on their own or be seen in small family groups. They come out at night to feed, and their large ears give them an acute sense of hearing.
How do porcupines digest plant food?
Microorganisms in a porcupine’s intestine and appendix break down plant fibres easily, which lets it live on a vegetarian diet of roots, tubers, bulbs, fruit and bark.
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