Brazilian porcupine
Brazilian porcupine | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Erethizontidae |
Genus: | Coendou |
Species: | C. prehensilis
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Binomial name | |
Coendou prehensilis | |
Synonyms | |
Hystrix prehensilis Linnaeus, 1758 |
The Brazilian porcupine (Coendou prehensilis) is a
Description
The body is covered with short, thick spines that are whitish or yellowish in color, mixed with the darker hair, while the underside is grayish. The lips and nose are fleshy. The tail is prehensile, with the tip curling upward so as to get a better grip on tree branches. This porcupine can grow to forty inches long (1 m), but half of that is tail. It weighs about nine pounds (4.1 kg). No spines are found on the tail, which is long (330–485 mm (13.0–19.1 in)). Its feet are reflective of their arboreal lifestyle, well-adapted for gripping branches, with four long-clawed toes on each.
Behavior
This shy,
Reproduction
As a rule the female gives birth to a single young in the spring. The newborn porcupine is covered with red hairs and small spines, which harden shortly after birth.
References
- Emmons, Louise H.; Feer, François (1997-09-02). Neotropical rainforest mammals : a field guide (2nd ed.). OCLC 44179508.