Animal Gallery
African Crested Porcupine |
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North African Crested Porcupines are found in Italy, Sicily, and along the Mediterranean coast of Africa to northern Zaire and Tanzania. They are highly adaptable and are found in forests, rocky areas, mountains, croplands, and sand hill deserts. They shelter in caves, rock crevices, aardvark holes, or burrows they dig themselves.
The quills of Crested Porcupines serve as an effective defense against predation. When disturbed they raise and fan quills to create an illusion of greater size. If the disturbance continues, they stamp their feet, whirr quills and charge the enemy, back end first, attempting to stab with the thicker, shorter quills. Such attacks have been known to kill Lions, Leopards, Hyenas, and Humans. - Taken from Animal Diversity Web. |
Did you know?
African Crested Porcupines rarely climb trees, but are able to swim. At the Zoo -
We have two African Crested Porcupines, a female called Thistle and a male called Thorn. |
