Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine (Brazilian Porcupine)
Coendou prehensilis
About the Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine (Brazilian Porcupine)
Geographic Range:
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Erethizontidae
Genus: Coendou
Species: prehensilis
This 3-4 foot long nocturnal, quilled rodent gets its name from its muscular prehensile tail that allows it to grip branches in the dense canopy of the rainforest. Each night, the porcupine forages for food in a different tree, using whiskers to feel around in the darkness.
You Can Find This Animal in the Windows to the Wild
Supporting Species Survival
Zoo New England participates in the prehensile-tailed porcupine Species Survival Plan. By sharing research and knowledge, participating institutions work together to establish guidelines that best ensure the health of captive populations, and with success, the survival of otherwise extinct species.
