Cyprus Crested Porcupine

The Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata) in Cyprus is also found in Italy, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. In the Mediterranean it is known from mainland Italy and the island of Sicily, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Crested porcupines are nocturnal animals that spend their time in burrows during the daytime. The burrow is self-constructed to a length of 10 metres and a width of four metres.

The porcupine has quills which are raised when alarmed or irritated. Porcupines also rattles the hollow spines on its tail, and if the offending animal has not retreated, the porcupine launches a backwards attack and rams its tail into the animal. This drives the porcupines spines deep into the enemy’s body.

The Cyrpus Crested Porcupine is compatible with the mongoose and other rodents.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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