The long-tailed porcupine, also known as Trichys fasciculata, is a very interesting animal.  They have similar traits as all other porcupines such as quills for self-protection.  The one major difference is the Trichys fasciculata has a long tail measuring up to 23cm long.  This long tail can sometimes prove to be a life saver.

Long-tailed porcupines are the smallest member of the family Hystricidae, resembling tiny rats.  They are black and brown on their upper body and white on their stomachs.  Their size can range from 28 to 48cm long and weigh between 1.7 and 2.3kg.  The long-tailed porcupine has broad paws which enables them to be very good climbers. 

The Trichys fasciculata uses its broad paws to climb trees and find food.  They are terrestrial animals preferring to live in burrows and caves.  You can find the long-tailed porcupine in the subtropical and tropical forests of Southwest Asia and Indonesia.  These animals are a very common and prolific species maintaining the same level of population throughout the years. 

       
Long-tailed porcupines are herbivores eating mainly fruits, seeds, bamboo shoots, and the cambium layer of trees.  The main competitor of this porcupine is other herbivores.  While there are no known predators the long-tailed porcupine is sometimes threatened by hunters.  This may not be for food but because these porcupines tend to destroy crops.  They have the ability to evade any predator because they can lose their tail if it is grabbed. 

       
As you just learned the long-tailed porcupine (Trichys fasciculata) is a very interesting animal.  They have long tails, broad paws for climbing, and eat trees and shrubs for food.  Their ability to lose their tail and evade predators makes them similar to a lizard.  The unfortunate thing though is that a lizard’s tail will grow back and the porcupines will not.  The long-tailed porcupine has many traits that help it get through everyday life. 

 

Baylee S.

February 14, 2011

Sources:

Reister, A. and A. Fraser, 2006, “Trichys fasciculata” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed January 31, 2011

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Trichys_fasciculata.html

 

Hystricidae: Crested Porcupine, Old World Porcupine, Indian Crested Porcupine, Hystrix, Cape Porcupine, and Long-Tailed Porcupine, 2010, Books LLC