Brazilian Porcupine

## About

A Brazilian porcupine in a tree.

The Brazilian porcupine ***(Coendou prehensilis)*** or the prehensile-tailed porcupine, is a new world porcupine native to the tropical forests of Brazil and northern South America. Brazilian porcupines are covered in short white-tipped spines or quills which are actually modified hairs designed to be hard and defensive, acting as a shield against predatory threats. They are nestled among dark grey-brown coarse fur, while the underbelly is lighter coloured. As an arboreal species, the Brazilian porcupine's hands and feet are well-adept to climbing through the canopy, possessing five long-toes each equipped with long claws. The snout of the Brazilian porcupine is characteristically bulbous, fleshy and is pink in colour, framed by long whiskers. Some bare skin is also displayed on the hands, feet and around the eyes and is also a dull pink in colour. The tail is without quills though is muscular and prehensile, allowing the species to grapple branches, aiding climbing. Possessing small eyes, the Brazilian porcupine is poorly sighted, though has an acute sense of smell. Brazilian porcupines can weigh up to 4-5kg (9-11lbs) and grow to around 1m long (40in) including the tail, which measures 330-485cm (13-19.1in) and makes up about half the total body length of the species.

## Diet

The Brazilian porcupine is a herbivorous species that forages primarily in canopies. They mostly eat tree bark and the layer of cambium wood beneath it, using their durable claws to pull bark from tree trunks. Brazilian porcupines also eat; unripe seeds (particularly those of the cocos palm), fruits, flowers, stems, roots, buds and leaves. They have also been known to eat agricultural plants such as corn and bananas. In captivity Brazilian porcupines are regularly fed corn, dried grains, kale, citruses, sweet potatoes as well as rat pellets and Monkey Chow.

## Conservation Status

The Brazilian porcupine is classed as least concern by the IUCN however, suffers some threats relating mostly to poaching by humans as a food source, though this is infrequent. Brazilian porcupines have been known to be tolerant to habitat modification and human encroachment into rainforests.

## Range and Population

The Brazilian porcupine inhabits the montane and coastal rainforests across Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, northern Argentina and northern Paraguay as well as Trinidad and Tobago, but have also been reported once in Ecuador. Some evidence suggests that the Brazilian porcupine is tolerant to forest disturbances and minimal deforestation however, it can be noted the species is generally dependent on environments of plentiful trees, particularly old growth forests. The species can also be found near riverine systems and wetlands among tropical grasslands, as well as lowlands. More frequently, they are found at high elevations of up to 1,500m (4,921ft). The population of the Brazilian porcupine is suspected to be plentiful and stable, though they are decreasing in numbers.

## Behaviour

The Brazilian porcupine is typically unsocial, living a solitary lifestyle however, they will tolerate other porcupines if potential mates and food is plentiful. When socialising, the Brazilian porcupine communicates through a variety of tactile, visual and chemical means, most notably, they will use their quills as a way to convey their aggression towards an unknown individual/potential predator. When relaxed, the quills stick flat to the skin however, they will erect in response to danger, their speed of erection correlating with threat level. When the quills are erect, the porcupine will turn its side to the threat, before showing of its head and neck quills from a front orientation. As a last resort, the porcupine will lunge at the threat, or curl into a ball to protect its weak underbelly. Alternately, quill-rattling or tooth chattering may be used to ward off a threat however, some debate has accumulated surrounding the exact purpose of these displays, as they are also exhibited after a porcupine is startled or after grooming. Auditory communication has also been recorded between individuals through groans, moans, grunts, clicks, shrieks, barks, wails, mews, squeaks and occasional hisses. Brazilian porcupines spend up to 85% of their time in trees, living an arboreal lifestyle. Brazilian porcupines are nocturnal and enjoy resting in tree forks, hollows and cavities during the day, before emerging at night to forage and socialise. Sometimes, they may nest with other porcupines. They only venture to the ground to mate, defecate and sometimes to forage, typically reaching peak activity in the hours between 4 PM and 2 AM, though these times vary depending on the season/environmental conditions. Both sexes seem to scent mark via the use of an anal gland which is located around the genitals and used to rub against the environment in a possible display of territorial boundaries. Males seem to do this more often than females. A separate but equally pungent secretion is emitted by both sexes via the flanks and the base of the tail and is waxy in texture. The waxy secretions leave a very identifiable smell in areas where porcupines are abundant. The mating habits of the Brazilian porcupine are not well documented however, it is known that no specific breeding season is recognised and that the species exhibits monogamy. Males are known to spray urine on females during what is likely courtship, doing this again to their subsequent offspring. Just one offspring is produced after a gestation of 195-210 days and the female reenters estrous after just 3-18 days. The juvenile porcupine -known as a porcupette- is born with 15mm (0.6in) long guard hairs which are known as natal-quills. They are light brown or dull orange in colour and protect the porcupette from predators until they harden after a few days. A porcupette will not venture from where it was born for the first 2-3 weeks of its life and weaning occurs between 4-15 weeks of age, occurring after an initial nursing period of 4 weeks. A Brazilian porcupines reaches adult-size at just 10 weeks old. Though parents show no animosity towards young, they will not be particularly caring either, often letting the porcupette defend itself from predators by climbing trees. Females remain tolerant of previous offspring proceeding the rearing of a new litter.

### Relationship with Humans

Brazilian porcupines are frequently poached by humans as a food source and are a particularly popular delicacy among the native people of the Amazon rainforest. Porcupines are also known to feed on the crops of humans, leading them to be persecuted by agriculturalists as a pest species.

## In Captivity

The Brazilian porcupine is a particularly popular porcupine species in captivity for its friendly and approachable nature. It can be found in an array of western zoos including the Cincinnati, Bronx and National zoos in the US. Some breeding success has also been apparent in captivity.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/101228458/22214580
* Brazilian Porcupine | Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian\_porcupine
* Brazilian Porcupine | Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Coendou\_prehensilis/
* Prehensile-tailed Porcupine | Smithsonian's National Zoo & Biology Conservation Institute - https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/prehensile-tailed-porcupine
* Coendou prehensilis (Tree porcupine or Brazilian porcupine) | The Official Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago - https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/documents/ogatt/Coendou\_prehensilis
* Prehensile-tailed Porcupine | Zoo Institutes - https://zooinstitutes.com/animals/prehensile-tailed-porcupine-461/