African Crested Porcupine

Hystrix cristata

### Regions

Italy, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania

## Habitat

### Water Area

310 m² +55 m²/ea. add'l
0 m²

### Temperature

0 m²
3‒43 ℃

## Social

### Fem. Bachelor

1‒6 (up to 5 males, up to 5 females)
1‒6
1‒6

### Sterility

1.5 years
Death

### Interbirth

4 months
12 months

## Taxonomy

### Order

Mammalia
Rodentia

### Genus

Hystricidae
Hystrix

The **African Crested Porcupine** (*Hystrix cristata*) is a large Afro-European rodent featured in the Arid Animal Pack DLC for *Planet Zoo*.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population In Wild:** Unknown

The African crested porcupine (or Hystrix cristata) is a large species of rodent found in the semi-deserts, savannahs, and montane areas of Central and North Africa, as well as Italy. Its coarse, bristled fur is dark brown to black in color, with its most distinctive feature being the black and white quills that grow from the middle of its neck, across its back and sides, and down its tail. These quills are raised upright when the porcupine feels threatened, and are very sharp. The African crested porcupine has a blunt, rounded snout, small eyes, and round ears. Its body is stout with short, stocky limbs. There is no sexual dimorphism exhibited by this species, and males and females are difficult to tell apart. They reach a length between 24in and 33in and weigh between 28lb and 60lb.

African crested porcupines are considered a species of Least Concern and are widespread throughout their range. In Italy, their population numbers are increasing and their range is expanding, however there have been declines documented in North Africa. Nonetheless, the African crested porcupine is a common animal throughout its range.

### Social

African crested porcupine are monogamous and live in mated pairs with their offspring from multiple litters in constructed underground dens and burrows.

### Reproduction

Most of the information about the mating habits of African crested porcupines is available from captive observations, so knowledge of their courtship in the wild is limited.

African crested porcupines are monogamous, and search for a mate when reaching sexual maturity. When a male and female encounter each other, they will spend lots of time together to form a strong bond. Porcupines appear to mate year round in captivity, but their breeding season seems to generally peak around fall to spring. When the female is receptive, she flattens her quill and lifts her tail to allow her mate to mount her. She will be aggressive towards any unfamiliar males that approach her.

Together, the male and female build a complex burrow system, including a grassy area that is constructed for the female to give birth and nurse her young. After a pregnancy of 93 to 110 days, she retreats to this burrow chamber and gives birth to a litter of 1 to 4 young, usually 2. The juveniles leave the den for the first time at 1 week old and begin eating solid food within the first month of their life. By 3 to 4 months old, they are fully weaned. Both parents care for the litter intensively.

The offspring stay with their parents until reaching sexual maturity, which males achieve at 18 months old and females between 12 and 14 months old. Then, they leave the family group to find a mate and establish a territory for themselves.

## Animal Care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Small Barrel Feeder · Melon Feeder · Slow Feeder · Forage Box Enrichment
Rubber Duck · Plant Screen · Sprinkler · Herb Scent Marker · Small Ball · Small Ice Ball · Small Ball Colourful · Small Ball Pumpkin · Hot Water Tap · Water Jet · Water Jet Rock

## Trivia

* The African crested porcupine is the largest species of porcupine in the world.
* African crested porcupines are very slow movers and will bristle their quills rather than run from danger.
* When threatened, the African crested porcupine will raise and shake its quills to produce a rattling noise, as well as stamping its feet. If the threat persists, it will attack with its quills by turning and charging rear first.
* Both African crested porcupine males and females are excellent parents who care intensively for their young, meaning that porcupines have a high survival rate to adulthood in comparison to other rodents.
* The quills of the African crested porcupine are hollow, sharp and smooth. They break off easily when stuck in flesh. In contrast to New World porcupines, the quills can be removed relatively easily as they have no barbs.

## Gallery

First look a the African Crested Porcupine