African Crested Porcupine

NAME:

African Crested Porcupine

CLASS:

Mammalia

ORDER:

Rodentia

GENUS:

Hystrix

SPECIES:

Cristata or Africaeaustralis

LENGTH:

2 to 3 feet

WEIGHT:

22 to 60 pounds

LIFESPAN:

up to 21 years in captivity

DIET:

Fruit, berries, bulbs, bark and roots.

PREDATORS:

Lions and humans

RANGE

Southern Africa

HABITAT

Forest, rocky areas, mountains & deserts.

CHARACTERISTICS

Poor eyesight, depend on hearing & smell.

BEHAVIOR

When threatened, vibrate & rattle quills, face away, rush backwards to impale enemy. CANNOT shoot quills. Grunt when excited.