Brush-tailed porcupine

The brush-tailed porcupines are a group of Old World porcupines in the genus Atherurus.

Characteristics

The brush-tailed porcupines have bodies covered in quills just like their new world relatives. These quills are shorter and not as visually prominent as those seen in the genus Hystrix, but considerably more so than in Trichys. They have a prominent tuft on the tips of their tail which leads to their common name. The tail will break off easily when the animal is threatened.

The bodies are long and somewhat rat-like. They are forest dwellers and nocturnal. They feed on vegetation, but may take insects or carrion.

The animals may live in social groups usually numbering 6-8. The longevity record for a captive animal was almost 23 years.

Species

There are two species of Atherurus, an Asian and an African variety.

• Genus Atherurus - brush-tailed porcupines
  • Atherurus africanus - African Brush-tailed Porcupine
  • Atherurus macrourus - Asiatic Brush-tailed Porcupine

References

• Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9