To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Brazilian porcupines secrete a pungent, oily substance that keepers humorously describe as “a mix between onions and body odor.” ORIGIN: Northern South America They range in size from under five pounds for the dwarf porcupines to up to 60 pounds for the crested porcupine, which is the largest. How do we differentiate it from other porcupines? Brazilian porcupines have been known to live up to 27 years in captivity. Did you know the Latin terminology for the porcupine is quill pig? In the wild their diet varies from twigs, berries, barks, leaves, roots, stem and other vegetation depending on the seasons and species of porcupines. They forage alone, but share their dens with two or more other porcupines. All porcupines share a few common characteristics. Many porcupines even eat timber of the ornamental trees and destroy the trees. Anyone can earn The porcupine is found in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. There are three species of porcupines designated as new world: the North American porcupine, the Brazilian porcupine, and the dwarf porcupine. These New World porcupines usually weigh between 12 and 35 pounds, with full body lengths of between 25 and 36 inches. References. Intra-specific interactions consist of biting and attempts to injure adversaries with their sharp quills. 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Appearance. Create your account, Already registered? flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? They normally feed on roots, tubers, bark and fallen fruits. The Brazilian porcupine is known to descend to the forest floor to visit mineral lick sites across Amazonia (Gilmore and Young, 2010; Molina et al., 2014). Its diet consists of leaves, fruit, and small fresh twigs and shoots. Features . Breeding. © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. Brazilian porcupines live in mid to northern parts of South America. credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. During the porcupine mating season, people may also hear a host of sounds including whining, moaning, and grunting. So one of these predators will sometimes kill and eat a porcupine by flipping it onto its back and biting into its vulnerable belly. Let's learn about these species of porcupines. Mammals (Mammalia) Order. Porcupine Predators & Threats. There are three species of porcupines designated as new world: the North American porcupine, the Brazilian porcupine, and the dwarf porcupine. References. Brazilian porcupines use their long claws to peel bark from trees and to open fruits. It lives in hilly, rocky habitats in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy. Prior to mating, the male porcupine urinates on the female partner, spraying at a high velocity. In about 18 months, a female porcupine attains sexual maturity. Did you know… We have over 220 college When another animal attacks the porcupine, its quills detach, burrowing into the adversary’s flesh and inflicting painful, potentially deadly wounds. The new world porcupines have a habit of eating pine needles, fruits, nuts, flowers, grasses, an aquatic plantations. South America; Class. They also have a ''sweet tooth'' for wood, and have been known to eat wooden paddles used in boating! The porcupine is best known for its sharp spikes and fierce look, helping it shield itself from predators. It is a large rodent encountered equally in the “Old World” and in North America and northern South America. By Maria Bastida . In rural areas, they may eat farmed crops, such as groundnuts, potatoes, pumpkins, and melons. Porcupine – diet, habitat, species and size with pictures. C. prehensilis is exclusively herbivorous, with a diet that consists of mainly buds, bark, fruits, and seeds (Charles-Dominique et al., 1981; Eisenberg, 1978). {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons Old World porcupines eat bark, roots, fruits, and berries. Porcupines have a relatively high longevity and have held the record for being the longest-living rodent, with one individual living to 27 years, until the record was broken in 2002 by a naked mole-rat living to 28 years. Coat of quills somewhere on their back natural source of salt provide them with a total of or! 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