Sphiggurus

Central American porcupines ( Sphiggurus mexicanus )

The South American porcupines ( Sphiggurus ) are a living in Central and South America rodent genus of the family of porcupines ( Erethizontidae ).

Features

Like all porcupines are characterized by the prickly fur of these animals. Her long coat is provided at the top with longer spines and yellowish or grayish brown. The underside is much softer and yellowish brown or dark brown. The small head sits on a short neck and is characterized by the wide snub nose. The feet and the long tail show adaptations to the arboreal habits of these animals: the toes are provided with sharp claws, the tail can be used as a prehensile tail.

These animals can reach a body length 28-65 inches, which must be added a 18 to 39 centimeters long tail comes. The weight - if known - is 0.5 to 1.3 kg.

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of the South American porcupines extends from eastern Mexico into southeastern Brazil and northern Argentina. Their habitat are primarily forests.

Way of life

These animals live mainly high on trees. You are slow but sure climbers who use their tail with their limbs to get ahead. They are nocturnal and sleep during the day in dense vegetation or tree hollows, some animals have also been found in burrows on the ground.

The social behavior is poorly understood. Observations on animals in captivity, according to the males respond aggressively to each other, but live peacefully next two or three females.

The food of these animals consists of leaves, stems, fruits and flowers, sometimes they also consume underground plant parts such as roots.

Little is known about reproduction. Usually a einzelenes Hatchling comes into the world, as with many guinea pig relatives the gestation period should relatively long and the degree of development of newborn be very high.

The types

The exact number of species is the subject of debate, especially since some representatives sometimes in the genus of porcupine ( Coendou ) are incorporated. Wilson & Reeder (2005) lists the following nine types:

• Sphiggurus ichillus was first described scientifically in 2001. The species lives in eastern Ecuador, and perhaps also in neighboring regions of Peru.
• Sphiggurus insidiosus is located in southeastern Brazil.
• Sphiggurus melanurus is common in many parts of northern South America.
• The Central American porcupines ( Sphiggurus mexicanus ), the northernmost area of all types, it is spread from eastern Mexico to Panama.
• Sphiggurus pruinosus is known only from a few specimens were found in Venezuela.
• Sphiggurus roosmalenorum was first described scientifically in 2001. The species lives along the Rio Madeira in Brazil.
• Sphiggurus spinosus has the southernmost distribution area. The species lives in southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina.
• Sphiggurus vestitus lives in Colombia and Venezuela. The IUCN lists the species as endangered.
• Sphiggurus villosus is located in southeastern Brazil.