A charming and quirky little tree-dweller native to Mexico and Central America, found in a variety of forested habitats from southern Mexico to Panama. Despite being a porcupine, it’s far from the ground-shuffling image most people picture — this species is an arboreal specialist, spending most of its life high in the treetops.

As its name suggests, it’s covered in hairy fur rather than being obviously spiky — but underneath that soft, shaggy coat lie hidden quills, which serve as a defense against predators. Its coloration is typically dark brown or blackish, and its face is slightly pig-like, with a blunt snout, large nostrils, and small, rounded ears — giving it a sort of plush toy appearance (until it bristles).

The Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine is nocturnal and solitary, spending its nights slowly moving through the canopy in search of food. It feeds on leaves, fruits, flowers, bark, and buds, with a particular love for figs and other soft fruits. Thanks to its prehensile tail and strong limbs, it can hang from branches, balance easily while foraging, and even use its tail to help climb vertically — making it extremely agile for such a slow-moving animal.

When threatened, it doesn’t run — instead, it relies on camouflage and stillness, only raising its quills and bristling if touched. Because its quills are hidden under fur, they’re more of a last-resort defense than a visible warning, unlike the more obviously spiny porcupines of other continents.
Reproduction is slow and careful. The female gives birth to a single baby (called a porcupette) after a several-month-long pregnancy. The baby is born with soft, bendable quills, which harden within a few days. The young stays close to its mother, often riding on her back as she moves through the trees.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Belize

2016

Costa Rica

2016

El Salvador

2016

Guatemala

2016

Honduras

2016

Mexico

2016

Nicaragua

2016

Panama

2016