Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine

Prehensile Tailed Porcupine – Coendou prehensilis

Among the most notable features of this porcupine are their unspined prehensile tails. The front and hind feet are also modified for grasping. These limbs all contribute to making this animal an adept climber, an adaptation to living most of their lives in trees. Like other porcupine species, their quills are used in defense and can inflict serious injuries. The Prehensile Tailed Porcupine’s diet consist of leaves, shoots, fruits, bark, roots and buds. They can be pest to plantation crops. They can grow between 12-23 inches in length and weigh between 4 ½ to 11 lbs. The life expectancy in human care ranges from 12 to 17 years.