The crested porcupine is distinct among Old World porcupines due to its shorter tail and the presence of rattle quills at the end of the tail that broaden at the terminal and hiss with vibrations.
The crested porcupine is distinct among Old World porcupines due to its shorter tail, averaging 8-17 centimeters or 3-7 inches, and the presence of rattle quills at the end of the tail. These quills broaden at the terminal end and this section is hollow and thin-walled. When these quills are vibrated, they produce a hiss-like rattle.
• Image | ©️ Kate Slumber, Some Rights Reserved (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
• Sources | (McPhee, 2003; Nowak, 1999; The Wikimedia Foundation, 2020b)
Learn More About the Crested Porcupine
