Cape Porcupine

Hystrix africaeaustralis

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Mammalia · Rodentia · Hystricidae

About

The Cape porcupine, Cape crested porcupine or South African porcupine, is a species of Old World porcupine native to central and southern Africa.

Fun Fact

Cape porcupines have quills up to 50 cm (20 in) long that they rattle as a warning — if that fails, they charge backward into predators, embedding barbed quills that can cause lethal infections in lions and leopards.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Savannas and grasslands

Diet

Herbivore

Lifespan

12-15 years

Threats

Agricultural Conversion
Overgrazing

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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