Right: A leopard spoor (track/pug mark) left in the sand on Klipbokkop Mountain Reserve in the Boland. These are the largest rodents (larger than the cane rat) in Southern Africa, weighing up to 30 kg (66 lb) and measuring over half a meter long. Indian porcupines are almost the same size on average as well, being slightly heavier on average than crested porcupine but slightly lighter than Cape porcupines. Facts about the Cape Porcupine -- Hystrix africaeaustralis: A summary of most interesting statistics (size, gestation...), amazing environmental adaptations & fascinating facts about social habits, etc. There are a few aspects to take into consideration before making a final conclusion. The diminutive dwarf mongoose is the smallest species of mongoose with the average adult reaching between 17 and 24 cm in length. Animal track identification is not as easy as one would think. Using this basic guide to the southern African spoor types, one may identify many interesting species, which are seldom actually seen, by their spoor alone. The South African Porcupine, (Cape Porcupine) inhabits much of Sub-Saharan Africa. COLOUR: White and black-ringed quills and spines cover flanks, tail and upper parts of the body. ... and Cape porcupine (Hystrix. Cape porcupines measure 63 to 81 centimetres (25 to 32 inches) long from the head to the base of the tail, with the tail adding a further 11–20 centimetres (4.3–7.9 inches). Ligama Porcupine noma Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) Kutiveta Kwayo Yomibili lendvuna nalensikati iPorcupine yase Afrika inesisindvo lesilishumi nesiphohlong kuya ku mashumi lamatsatfu ema g (ingaba ngemashumi lamane kuya kumashumi lasitfupha ema pounds) futsi kuma kwawo tinyawo letimbili ngekuya etulu. However, these dimensions are not as impressive as the sight of the animal itself. Leopard tracks in the Cape mountains measure between 6.5cm and 8.5cm from the front of the longest toe to the back of the main pad. Porcupine or Cape Porcupine [Hystrix africaeaustralis] Appearance. It’s a nocturnal rodent and lives in dens, burrowed into alluvial soil, often near koppies (small rocky hills). The fore- and hind-feet each show 3 intermediate pads and 2 proximal pads in the spoor. few porcupine tracks, with the distinctive rounded pads and visible claws typical of porcupine spoor and then the faint marks left behind by the trailing rump quills. Diet - African porcupines are mostly vegetarian, using their strong digging claws to get roots, tubers, and bulbs. The African Porcupine is a type of Rodent that has long sharp spines, up to 50cm long, which cover its whole back and can be raised by muscles under the skin. Both the male and female African Porcupines weigh from 18 to 30 kg (about 40 to 60 pounds) and are about two feet long. The Cape porcupine grows up to a meter long and 20kg in weight. How to identify animal tracks. SIZE: Length 84 cm, mass 17 kg. Spoor counts and camera trapping are increasingly common survey tools used to detect the presence of species of interest in an area (occupancy). Anthropogenic disturbance (livestock and humans/vehicle trapping rate) did not appear to influence the probability a species was detected by spoor or cameratrap surveys (95% credible interval estimates overlapped zero), with the exception of Cape hare (Lepus capensis) and Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis). Mongoose characteristics. All mongoose species are short-legged animals with long bodies, pointy noses, furry tails, and small ears. It's a vision to behold as it trundles along, beneath a … This is the world’s largest porcupine – and also by far the largest rodent in Africa. 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