Crested Porcupineアフリカタテガミヤマアラシ

Species Data

Classification

Rodentia / Hystricidae Source

Distribution

The crested porcupine is found across Italy, North Africa, and West, Central, and East Africa — the only porcupine species found in Europe. Source

Did You Know?

• Some of its tail quills are hollow, and vibrating them produces a hiss-like rattle similar to a rattlesnake, used to warn off threats. Source
• It collects bones as a calcium source and can stockpile thousands of them in its underground burrow chambers. Source
• In Japan, the species was first successfully bred in captivity at Sapporo's Maruyama Zoo in 1977, with offspring later distributed to zoos nationwide. Source

FAQ

How does the crested porcupine defend itself?

Beyond its sharp quills, it has hollow tail quills that it vibrates to produce a hiss-like rattle similar to a rattlesnake, warning off potential predators before any physical contact. Source

How long do crested porcupines live?

They are unusually long-lived for rodents, with individuals recorded living up to 28 years — the second-longest lifespan of any rodent after the naked mole-rat. Source

Why does the crested porcupine gnaw on bones?

It gnaws bones found outside its burrow to obtain calcium and to keep its incisors worn down, and it often stockpiles thousands of collected bones underground. Source