The African Brush-Tailed Porcupine (Atherurus africanus) is a rat-like Old World porcupine called “brush-tailed porcupines”. These species grows to about three feet long and weigh as much as eight pounds. It has an elongated rat-like face and body and short legs, tipped with clawed and webbed feet. This porcupine has lighter and smaller quills that are thinner and brush-like on the tail that can make noise when rattled.

The brush-tailed porcupines are nocturnal and during the day they sleep in caves and burrows such as old termite nests, abandoned dens of other animals, empty fallen tree trunks or between tree roots. They like to live near water sources and are good swimmers although they rarely cross those natural barriers. Brush-tailed porcupines are nervous and fast moving animals that can climb trees and jump up to one meter. Brush-tailed porcupines live in small family groups of about eight members. This species is found essentially in rainforest areas of the African continent, mainly in West and Central Africa but also in forest of Kenya, Uganda and high altitude forests of Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

This species is not uncommon, but since they are nocturnal and is rarely seen their population is currently unknown. The wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The species’ prevalence in wild meat markets is cause for concern and requires careful monitoring.  It has a gestation length of 100 to 110 days, with a single young born, in two to three litters per year. They have longevity of 15 years.

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African brush-tailed porcupine is mostly herbivorous. These species can live in deep forest but tolerates secondary vegetation, and is fond of feeding on human crops such as manioc, banana, palm trees or peanut plantations. They also feed on forest fruits, insects, roots, carrion and earthworms.

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African porcupine has few natural predators. Leopards, big eagles and snakes are among the most common, but man is certainly its main predator. In Central and West Africa, the brush-tailed porcupine is consumed in large quantities for its meat. Since they live in rainforest areas also nervous and fast moving animals it is one of the effective way for them to evade their predators.

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The interesting facts that stood out about the animal are the way they are being consumed. As urban centers develop and new road are built, pressure on wildlife populations becomes increasingly higher. African brush-tailed porcupine with its low reproductive rate, are less tolerant to intense rates of hunting, which cause population decline. Their existence is not yet endangered but with hunting practices by the locals it will not be long before we lose them as part of our natural habitat.

 

Author:  Noel F.

Published:  10/2012

 

Sources:      
www.biolib.cz
www.arkive.org