Armed with a coat of long, sharp quills and a stocky, powerful body, this porcupine is built for defense, yet it’s also a surprisingly social and resourceful creature. Native to much of southern and central Africa, from South Africa up through Kenya and into the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the cape porcupine thrives in savannas, woodlands, and rocky hillsides, showing off adaptations that make it one of nature’s most memorable rodents.

In terms of size, the cape porcupine is a true heavyweight among rodents. Their bodies are covered with a mix of coarse bristles and long, stiff quills, some of which can grow up to 50 cm (20 in) long. The quills are not poisonous, but they are hollow and razor-sharp, and they detach easily when a predator makes contact. Contrary to the old myth, porcupines cannot “shoot” their quills—though when they back into a threat, the quills dislodge with painful precision.

Diet-wise, cape porcupines are herbivores, feeding mainly on roots, tubers, bulbs, fruits, and bark. They are well known for their love of underground plant parts, and their digging helps aerate the soil, which can actually benefit the ecosystem. Occasionally, they chew on bones to sharpen their teeth and gain calcium, a behavior that also leaves behind piles of gnawed bones near their burrows.

At night, families forage together, moving cautiously but with confidence thanks to their natural armor. When threatened, they raise their quills, stamp their feet, and rattle their specialized hollow tail quills, producing a loud warning sound before charging backward into a predator. Even lions and leopards often think twice before taking on a porcupine.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Botswana

2016

Burundi

2016

Congo-Brazzaville

2016

DR Congo (Kinshasa)

2016

Eswatini

2016

Kenya

2016

Lesotho

2016

Malawi

2016

Mozambique

2016

Namibia

2016

Rwanda

2016

South Africa

2016

Tanzania

2016

Uganda

2016

Zambia

2016

Zimbabwe

2016