African Brush-tailed Porcupine | |
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Information | |
Range | Africa ranging from Guinea on the west coast to Kenya on the east. |
Scientific Classification | |
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Mammalia |
Order | Rodentia |
Family | Hystricidae |
Genus | Atherurus |
Species | Atherurus africanus |
Conservation Status | |
Least Concern |
The African brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus), is a species of Old World porcupine, indigenous to a broad belt of Africa ranging from Guinea on the west coast to Kenya on the east.
African brush-tailed porcupines live in forests, usually at high elevations, and are nocturnal, sleeping in caves and burrows during the day. They are among the biggest rodents in Africa, with a body length of 36–60 cm (14–24 in), discounting a tail of about 10–26 cm (4–10 in) and weigh as much as 2.9 kg (6.4 lb). It has an elongated rat-like face and body and short legs, tipped with clawed and webbed feet. Unlike most other porcupines, the brush-tailed porcupine has lighter and smaller quills. On the tail, these quills are thinner and brush-like. These can make noise when rattled. Brush-tailed porcupines live in small family groups of about eight members. Different family groups can share resources. When attacked by a predator, the porcupine raises its quills so it looks twice its size, rattles its tail quills, and stomps its feet. As with all porcupines, the brush-tailed porcupine backs into the attacker and inflicts damage with its quills.
The African brush-tailed porcupine is mostly herbivorous. When alone eating, the porcupines can be quite nervous. During the breeding season, males and females form pair bonds to get acquainted. The African brush-tailed porcupine has a long pregnancy compared to other rodents: 110 days at the longest. The young are born well-developed or precocial. Porcupines reach maturity at two years of age.
The meat of the African brush-tailed porcupines is popular and is consumed in large quantities.