Although they are very sharp, the quills are not barbed and are loosely attached to the follicle. The quills are intermixed with longer, more flexible spines, which act as guards for the quills. The spines may be up to 21 inches in length. The head and underparts are covered with black hair which is often mixed with white on the head. Behavior Crested porcupines are fairly social animals, often traveling in pairs or small family groups.
Females maintain a seperate den for rearing young, and generally forage alone.
Adults may lick each other as well as the young. Frequently, several porcupines will den together. The den may be very long and have several entrances. Well gnawed bones or skulls may litter the burrow entrance. The crested porcupine is usually nocturnal, but is frequently abroad during the day.