Brazilian Porcupine

Coendou prehensilis

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Mammalia · Rodentia · Erethizontidae

About

The Brazilian porcupine is a porcupine found in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, Bolivia and Trinidad, with a single record from Ecuador. It inhabits tropical forests at elevations up to 1500 m.

Fun Fact

Brazilian porcupines have prehensile tails that act as a fifth limb for gripping branches, and their quills are barbed with microscopic backward-facing hooks that make them nearly impossible to remove from a predator's skin.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Tropical and subtropical forests

Diet

Herbivore

Lifespan

12-17 years

Threats

Deforestation
Illegal Logging

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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