Thick-spined porcupine

Hystrix crassispinis

SUBFAMILY

Hystricinae

TAXONOMY

Hystrix crassispinis (Günther, 1877), Sabah, Malaysia.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Borneo short-tailed porcupine.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Body length is 1.4–3.0 ft (42–93 cm), tail length is 1.0–7.5 in (2.5–19 cm), and weight is 8.4–11.9 lb (3.8–5.4 kg). Short, rounded head; no head or neck mane; upper side is dark brown to black and partly speckled in light color; underside is brown to gray-white. Body is covered with flattened spines; each grooved longitudinally with increased rigidity near tip. Quills are smaller along tail and more flexible on underside. Coarse, bristle-like hairs cover feet. Nasal bones are small. Subgenus Thecurus resembles subgenus Hystrix in having shorter tail and longer quills. Resembles subgenus Acanthion in that it lacks well-developed crest and its quills have only one black band.

DISTRIBUTION

North Borneo, especially Kalimantan.

HABITAT

Forests and cultivated areas, from sea level to 3,900 ft (1,200 m).

BEHAVIOR

Nocturnal; terrestrial.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Fallen fruits and other vegetable material.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Gestation period, number of young at birth, weight at birth, weaning period, and sexual maturity are all similar to those of family.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Generally, all populations are endangered. Listed by the IUCN as Lower Risk/Near Threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Hunted for meat. Eat farmers' crops, and are thus perceived as pests.