Coendou prehensilis Linnaeus 1758
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Erethizontidae
Coendou
Coendou prehensilis

description: 3.
Brazilian Porcupine
Coendou prehensilis
French: Coendou du Brésil / German: Eigentlicher Greifstachler / Spanish: Puercoespin arboricola
Other common names: Prehensile-tailed Porcupine
Taxonomy. Hystrix prehensilis Linnaeus, 1758,
“Habitat in Asia, America.” Restricted by Y. L. R. Leite and colleagues in 2011 to “Mata Xangua, Usina Trapiche, municipality of Sirthaém, state of Pernambuco, Brazil, 8°38’50” S, 35°10°15” W, elevation 100 m” by neotype selection.
Coendou prehensilis appears to be most closely related to a clade of trans-Andean and Andean species including C. mexicanus, C. quichua, and C. rufescens. Several publications on molecular phylogenetics used sequence data from a C. prehensilis specimen misidentified as a C. bicolor, calling earlier results into question. Coendou prehensilis is monotypic, has a very large geographical distribution, and although there is very little genetic variation among specimens from northern South America, Amazonia, and the “cerrado” (bush savanna) biome, genetic divergence was apparent in samples from Pernambuco. Further molecular data are required to help discern whether or not the newly discovered C. baturitensis actually belongs to C. prehensilis, given that phenotypes overlap. Monotypic.
Distribution. From most of Colombia (except W), Venezuela, and the Guianas, S throughout most of the forested cis-Andean lowlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil to E Bolivia, N & E Paraguay, and NW Argentina, also on Trinidad [; it may also be found in Uruguay.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 444-560 mm, tail 330-578 mm, ear 20-29 mm, hindfoot 80-95 mm; weight 3.2-5.3 kg. The Brazilian Porcupine is large,salt-and-pepper in appearance, and has a long tail. It lacks emergent fur and thus appears spiny. Dorsum, including rump, is covered in bicolored and tricolored barbed defensive spines. Longest dorsal spines (60-110 mm) are tricolored white or pale yellow at bases and tips, with black or dark brown centers, and colors are of about equal length on each spine. Head is round, and face usually white. Pink nose and lips are large, soft, and bulbous; nasal aperture is very wide. Small ears are inconspicuous among sharp, short spines on head. Mystacial vibrissae are stout and long, reaching shoulders. Eyes are small and black, with faint dull red-eye shines. Frontal sinuses of the Brazilian Porcupine are highly inflated, external auditory meatus is weakly keeled, and upperincisors are distinctly procumbent. Tail is long; tail length is 100% of head-body length. Robust tail is dorsally prehensile, distal one-third of dorsalside is naked, remainderis covered in short spines, and it is whitish at the base. Tail is often held curled around branches in an up-curling coil. Venter is covered with short, pale gray-brown or whitish soft spines. Short spines cover legs. Feet are broad with large pads opposing four long, strong claws and appear gray-brown above. Young Brazilian Porcupines are born with long, soft red-brown or brown hair that partially covers spines. Individuals from the Peruvian Basin may appear darker, with small white tips on their spines.
Habitat. Old second growth or particularly vine-covered areas of lowland rainforest or tropical dry forests and riparian woodlands in savanna landscapes. Brazilian Porcupines are usually found in midto upper canopies.
Food and Feeding. The Brazilian Porcupine eats fruit, immature seeds, buds, bark, green or ripe fruits, and some leaves, butit is less folivorous than smaller New World porcupines.
Breeding. In captivity, female Brazilian Porcupines give birth aseasonally to a single precocial young after 195-200 days of gestation. Periods ofrainfall can cause peaksin births. Young weigh 360-450 g at birth and are nutritionally independent at c.15 weeks after birth. During the day, young are left alone in a sheltered place but are nursed at least once per day. Age offirst reproduction of females is ¢.19 months, and individuals can reproduce for more than twelve years.
Activity patterns. Brazilian Porcupines are arboreal and nocturnal. They are often immobile and difficult to spot. They rest diurnally in retreats in hollow trees or in shady locations in the forest subcanopy. They are surprisingly agile and climb quickly.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Brazilian Porcupines occur at relatively high densities as indicated by large numbers rescued during construction of a hydroelectric dam. In the Venezuelan Llanos, individuals have been reported to range over 15-20 ha. In one study, home ranges were 8 ha and 38 ha for two radio-tracked males and 10 ha for one female. Home ranges of males overlapped with female’s home range. Brazilian Porcupines used different sleeping sites each day. Distance between trees required some nocturnal travel on the ground. Brazilian Porcupines are solitary but socially tolerant and communicate vocally and by scent marking. Social calls include whistles and a long, low-amplitude moaning cry. Males and females rub, and males mark females with urine. Diurnal restsites include large hollow tree trunks or other cavities, and females are occasionally found with their young.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern (as C. prehensilis) and as Data Deficient (as C. sanctamartae) on The IUCN Red List. Feral dogs regularly eat Brazilian Porcupines in summerin Brazil. Presence of azole-resistant yeast fungus, Candida albicans, could indicate exposure to agricultural azole antifungals in the wild or in captivity, or exposure to environmental contaminants or chemical compounds.
Bibliography. Arita et al. (1990), Bonvicino, Penna-Firme & Braggio (2002), Campos et al. (2007), Castelo-Branco et al. (2013), Dobson & Yu Jinping (1993), Eisenberg & Redford (1999), Emmons (1997a), Feijé6 & Langguth (2013), Leite et al. (2011), Miles et al. (1981), Montgomery & Lubin (1978), Vilela et al. (2009), Voss (2011, 2015).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Erethizontidae, pp. 372-397 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 375-376, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6603219