08/09/2018
The Brazilian Porcupine, Coendou prehensilis, is a spectacular animal. They have a prehensile tail that is used to wrap around a branch when eating. Often they are found by their distinct smell and are most commonly seen high up in the hollow trees.This and the fact that they are nocturnal animals makes them very hard to see. Yet with this one it was different because we spent over an hour with this incredible animal.
I have never seen any porcupines on the ground, as they are arboreal creatures. They mainly feed on immature seed, both green and ripe fruits, but sometimes they can even eat bark or the leaves of the trees. This is typical of arboreal creatures, as all rodents like to wear down their teeth. Jaguar and other carnivores avoid feeding on the porcupines because of their defensive spines.
Visitors at the Jaguar Camp are always thrilled to see porcupines. I told the group that I was guiding, that porcupines are more rare to see than the Jaguar in the Porte Jofre Region.
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