Stump-tailed Porcupine

Fascinating facts about the Stump-tailed Porcupine

• Genetic work shows it belongs to the genus Coendou and is the sister taxon to C. quichua, confirming its placement after a cytochrome-b analysis moved it from the monotypic genus Echinoprocta. This phylogenetic insight clarifies the evolutionary tree of New World porcupines, revealing that what once seemed a lone lineage actually shares a recent common ancestor with several other Andean species.
• Its body measures just 309-370 mm from nose to rump, while the tail adds another 105-150 mm, roughly 40 % of the head-body length.
• It lives high up the Andes, with sightings from 800 m to 3 500 m, but most records sit between 1 500 m and 3 000 m.
• Despite being one of the smaller New World porcupines, it still reaches about 37 cm (14.6 inches) in length, plus a short tail, and spends its nights foraging for fruit high in the trees. Its nocturnal, arboreal habits.
• Molecular screening of wild mammals in Colombia found Borrelia sp. DNA in the tissues of Coendou rufescens, with 15.24 % (16 of 105) of sampled mammals testing positive for Borrelia, underscoring the need for surveillance in forest habitats.

At a glance

About the Stump-tailed Porcupine

In the twilight depths of the tropical forest, the stump-tailed porcupine emerges, its rust-hued coat blending seamlessly with the rich earth tones of its surroundings. With a gentle, almost languid gait, it navigates the dense underbrush, its prehensile tail grasping for branches as it searches for the tender shoots and leaves that sustain it. As it moves, the soft rustle of its quills provides a soothing background melody, a testament to the quiet, unassuming nature of this remarkable creature.

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