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Spending most of its time in the canopy, the Brazilian porcupine is an expert climber. Large curved claws, bare soles and a prehensile tail help the large rodent grip branches as it moves through the trees. The muscular tail is nearly as long as the body and essentially acts as a fifth limb.

rico the porcupine

Did You Know?

Too Close for Comfort- Like all porcupines, the Brazilian porcupine defends itself with sharp quills that pierce the flesh of an intruder that comes too close.

Quick Facts

Latin Name:
Coendou prehensilis

Range:
Northern and eastern South America

Habitat:
Tropical rainforest

Length:
1.7 ft

Lifespan:
12 to 17 yrs

Zoo Location:
Children's Zoo

Diet:
Leaves, bark, fruits, shoots and small animals