Meet the Crested Porcupine
The Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is one of the largest rodents in the world, native to Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Known for its striking coat of long, sharp quills, this nocturnal mammal relies on its impressive defense mechanism to deter predators—when threatened, it raises its quills, rattles them as a warning, and if necessary, charges backward to deliver a painful stab. Unlike common misconceptions, porcupines cannot shoot their quills, but the barbed tips easily detach, making them highly effective against attackers. Crested porcupines are mostly herbivorous, feeding on roots, tubers, bark, and fallen fruits, though they have been known to gnaw on bones for extra minerals. These resilient rodents are also skilled diggers, creating extensive burrows to escape the heat of the day. Despite their tough appearance, crested porcupines are social animals, often forming monogamous pairs and raising their young in family groups.
Park Location: Animal Walkabout
About the Crested Porcupine
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Length | 23.6 – 32.7 Inches (60 – 83 cm) |
| Weight | 28.6 – 59.4 lbs (13 – 27 kg) |
| Diet | These herbivorous rodents mainly consume bark, roots, tubers, rhizomes, bulbs, fallen fruits and cultivated crops, complementing their diet with insects and small vertebrates. |
| Gestation Period | 112 Days |
| Life Span | 28 Years |
| Threats | Due to consuming cultivated crops and gnawing on plantation trees, these rodents are persecuted and poisoned with bait by farmers as a pest species. Populations in both Europe and Africa attract hunters for their meat, which is a delicacy in some countries of North and West Africa. They are also hunted for their quills, used as ornaments and talismans. In Morocco, these animals are believed to have a pharmaceutical value, being killed and sold in large numbers to be used in traditional ‘medicines’ and witchcraft. |
