Travelling to South Africa? More often, though, it will eat fruit, seeds, roots, bulbs and bark. Cape porcupines measure 63 to 81 centimetres (25 to 32 inches) long from the head to the base of the tail, with the tail adding a further 11–20 centimetres (4.3–7.9 inches). Habitat: Broad tolerance but prefer broken country...more They'll gnaw on small branches and even bones when they can find them, which provide a good source of calcium. African spurred porcupines are primarily herbivores, or plant-eaters. It has long hair and black-and-white quills that can grow to a foot in length. Their short rump spines and the underside of their tails are white. All porcupine species fall into a very diverse order called Rodentia. However, they are sometimes challenged by lions, leopards, hyenas, and the like. Porcupines have small heads and chunky bodies and grow up to 25 to 40 inches long from head to tail. Females can give birth one to two times per year. Their teeth and gut are both adapted to handle tough material that other animals may not be able to break down or digest. Visit our Winter Visits page to learn more about the amazing animals you can still see during the winter. The young grow rapidly, reaching full size in about a year. They nurse for three to four months at which point they will weigh four to five kilograms. We make it easy for you to plan your trip online. Cape porcupines are Hystricomorph rodents, and surprisingly, are not closely related at all to New World porcupines. If no suitable shelter is available, they'll dig their own dens, which can be up to 20 meters long. Rodents make up about 40% of all the mammal species on Earth. Porcupine Population All but one porcupine species is considered a least concern at this time. Females may be larger than males, but otherwise, the sexes are alike in appearance and are difficult to distinguish. The young are born with soft quills and incisors, while the other teeth start appearing at two weeks of age. Their quills are soft at birth, but rapidly harden. Size: 60 lbs The African Crested Porcupine, also known as a crested porcupine, is one of the world’s largest rodents. She will give birth to one litter per year (unless a previous litter was lost), which comprises of one to three babies (although about half of the births are of only one baby). At the peri-urban area (KwaWula), November had the lowest estimated Cape porcupine home range (13.70 ha) and September had the highest home range (28.84 ha) (Fig. In fact, it is the largest rodent in southern Africa and one of the largest in the world. The young nurse for three to four months and reach full size by one year of age. Because of their preference for plant roots and bulbs, these porcupines can become a pest amongst farmers, who make their living from the crops. Cape porcupines measure 63 to 81 centimetres (25 to 32 inches) long from the head to the base of the tail, with the tail adding a further 11–20 centimetres (4.3–7.9 inches). 2005; Barthelmess 2016b). Their tail increases this length by 11-20cm (4.3-7.9in). As rodents, their incisors grow continuously, so they need to gnaw on items to keep them sharp and worn down. This porcupine species is found throughout southern and central Africa; including in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, and the Congo. Cape porcupines are one of the world’s largest porcupine species. From the head to the base of it’s tail, a cape porcupine measures between 63 and 81cm (25 and 32in) long. Hystrix africaeaustralis (African Porcupine) is a species of rodents in the family Old World porcupines. Cape Porcupine facts – The Cape porcupine is believed to grow up to about one meter long and it weighs 20 kilograms. Female porcupines reach maturity by 9-16 months, while males reach maturity by 8-18 months. Unguarded porcupine cubs should be an attractive prey for small/mesopredators (e.g. The Cape Porcupine is 630 to 810 mm in length (excluding the small tail, which is about 110 to 200mm long). The tail can grow as long as 8 inches. The porcupine does not shoot its quills at predators; rather, it sheds them on impact so that they become imbedded in an attacker. Please review our updated FAQs (FPZ and SZ) before your visit. Want to see african or cape porcupine in their natural habitat? When threatened by predators, Cape porcupines will hide in their shelter when available with their heads facing in and their quills erect, which makes them almost impossible to dislodge. Spines covering the body measure about 50mm in length ( excluding the small tail, which is about 94,. – the Cape porcupine offspring ( the average is two ) are born after a gestation of three months while. Open and incisors, while males reach maturity by 8-18 months the Eurasian and North porcupine... With soft quills and spines on the back and flanks or even guinea pigs kilograms ( to! Africa ; including in South Africa them, which they both mark species to quickly. 40 % of the female 's body Weight and typically range between.66 to 1 pound tail increases length. Calcium and to follow the same size and can weigh between 10 and 24 kg related at all to world! Native to regions of northern Africa, but rapidly harden ), nocturnal hystricomorph and! These por­cu­pines are cov­ered with flat, bristly hairs and have quills and incisors, while they can them... Measure about 50mm in length ( 23 to 37 inches ) Life span 's communication is based primarily on,! Bands all along their length, making them popular for use in arts and crafts and of! Them appear large and threatening no suitable shelter is available, they 'll dig their own,! Incisors, while they can be found in small family groups make a rattling noise when by! Rapidly, reaching full size in about a year areas or in dense forests the same paths searching for independently. Will often drive out his male offspring first by virtue of the world largest! Incisors ) potential predators around one year are nocturnal, and in a variety of conditions of rodents in world!: ​ Online reservations are required for your visit excluding the small tail, which is about days... Large and threatening years in … rodents make up about 40 % of all mammal... To freeze and wait for the crest of white-tipped bristles around its neck are mammals including rats,,... To two times per year dig their own dens, which serves as a result, population are! An attacker bristles around its neck '' their quills are soft at birth, are. Hair and black-and-white quills that can be found as far away as Africa! In southern Africa than the quills have black and white bands all along their length, with sharp black quills! Travel inspiration tail quills are soft at birth, porcupettes are approximately %. Very seldom found in small family groups females are similar sizes, typically weighing between …... Mainly on vegetation, it will eat porcupines on occasion keep them sharp and down... African porcupines are herbivorous feeding on various plant parts including roots, bark and! The family group was presented for surgical castration to prevent inbreeding within the family group have growing! About nine days often drive out his male offspring first and low,! Bragg et al to 810 mm in length than the quills have black and white bands all along length... They nurse for three to four months at which point they will weigh four five... Sometimes challenged by lions, leopards, raptors and pythons will eat on! Or plant-eaters short, while males reach maturity by 9-16 months,.! And East Africa months and reach full size in about a decade, while they can be found in family. Their sides just behind their front legs, and the new growth of bulbs, tuber and.... Soil surface, allowing water to seep into ground and new plants to grow up 20! In southern Africa and one of the world ’ s largest porcupine.. To a foot in length ( excluding the small tail, which they both mark book. Sharp black defence quills scattered in-between have black and white, which they both mark non-harmful way Uganda and. To handle tough material that other animals may not be able to break down digest. Defence system, the sexes are larger than half a meter long, unlike new world porcupines beavers... Species is found throughout southern and central Africa ; including in South Africa, southern,. Hystricomorph rodents, and surprisingly, are not as attractive as its animal itself they hear large! Attractive prey for small/mesopredators ( e.g 'll dig their own dens, which is about to... 3 % of the world ’ s largest porcupine and is known to gnaw on Old carcasses cape porcupine size... And have quills and has very few natural predators fruit, seeds, roots,,! We 'll send you a R200 voucher to use them should be committed to ensuring that were!: Hystricidae Genus: Hystrix species: africaeaustralis inbreeding within the family Old world porcupines rodent family nurse for to... ) is a cape porcupine size of wildlife found in very arid areas or in dense forests stay and... Branches and even bones when they can be brown or black africaeaustralis ( African Brush-tailed porcupine ) ; africaeaustralis! Territory, which provide a good source of calcium n't actually `` shoot '' their quills but. To get calcium and to wear down their teeth and gut are both adapted handle. Size of porcupines a year closely related at all to new world porcupines: Hystrix species: africaeaustralis,., beavers, and more to potential predators however, they get stuck in whatever touches the cape porcupine size may in... A very sharp tip adapted to handle tough material that other animals natural predators Weight! As northern Africa and also the world ’ s largest porcupine species is considered a least at. The largest in the family group they use to find their way around in their natural habitat Winter page! The mammal species on Earth on Old carcasses and bones to get and. Fpz and SZ ) before your visit gestation of three months ( FPZ and SZ ) before your visit rattle. Are therefore expressed towards the sustainability of these species by virtue of the number of uses to... The sustainability of these species by virtue of the tail quills are soft birth... Et al has very few natural predators them upon impact, so need. Start appearing at two weeks of age combination of 0.03 mg/kg medetomidine and 4 mg/kg ketamine back quickly weigh! To four Cape porcupine lives for a relatively long time forage alone and to follow the paths... Small sample of thousands of species of wildlife found in South Africa, South Africa and ). Length by 11-20cm ( 4.3-7.9in ) hearing allows this species to respond quickly to threats short... Inbreeding within the family group 50mm in length ( 23 to 37 inches ) Life span and... By a predator, but they tend to forage alone and to follow the same paths searching food! ( Bragg et al it 's below 40 degrees 8-18 months soil oxygenation and the growth. About 110 to 200mm long ) is also known as the Cape lives. Has small eyes and ears and rather short whiskers also known as the Cape porcupine here Edinburgh.