Porcupine

Porcupine

There are about 2 dozen species of porcupine but they all look predominantly the same. They are of the rodent family but certainly much cuter than any rat will ever be (no offence to rat lovers). The Southern African porcupine, which we will be looking at, weighs between 40 and 66 pounds and reaches lengths of between 2.3 and 2.8 feet and is the largest rodent in its area, the females being bigger than the males. They are found mostly all over sub-Saharan Africa, even in some domestic areas. Their stout bodies are covered all over with bristly black hairs and on their backs are additional spines and quills. According to the National Geographic , these black and white quills that usually lie flat can voluntarily be erected to make the porcupine look larger and to scare off potential predators. In Africa their main predators are the big cats (lions, leopards etc.), hyenas, predatory birds and humans. This little creature which has a keen sense of hearing and smell with very long whiskers will usually freeze when it is afraid but will also shake and vibrate their quills in hopes that the rattling sound will be a deterrent. Their sharp backward-curving quills can easily become imbedded in a predator's skin but luckily they quickly grow back.

Though they are mostly nocturnal animals, they are often seen in the daytime lurking outside their little caves and holes they dig for themselves. Coming out at night to feed they dig with their strong claws for roots and bulbs. They will also eat fallen fruit, plants, leaves, and sometimes even gnaw on the bark of a tree. In times when there is not enough phosphorous in their food they have been known to chew the decaying flesh off bones and they tend to gather bones in little piles in their dens.

They either live solitary lives or in small groups of six members. Breeding season is from May to December and they usually only breed once a year with an average of 2 offspring per mother. Their young are born quite developed with teeth and open eyes and soft quills. They are lucky that both the male and female porcupines take on a Parenting role.

Some interesting facts about porcupines:

1. Contrary to popular belief, the porcupine cannot shoot out their quills.

2. When they are in attack mode when threatened, they move backwards.

3. Most rodents only live up to three years old but porcupines can live up to 15 years of age.

4. Their quills are hollow which is why it makes a kind of hissing sound when they move it to ward off predators.

5. Unlike most animals where the male takes the lead, female porcupines are the ones to initiate copulation.

6. Baby porcupines are called porcupettes.

7. They are considered a delicacy by local people and their quills are used in many local decorations.

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