Hystrix sumatrae (Lyon, 1907)
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6612213 |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6612188 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A91B1C-C152-4A63-CCA8-F8F09015629E |
treatment provided by |
Carolina |
scientific name |
Hystrix sumatrae |
status |
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Sumatran Porcupine
French: Porc-épic de Sumatra / German: Sumatra-Stachelschwein / Spanish: Puercoespin de Sumatra
Other common names: Sumatran Short-tailed Porcupine
Taxonomy. Thecurus sumatrae Lyon, 1907 View in CoL ,
“Aru Bay, east coast of Sumatra.”
H. sumatraeis in subgenus Thecurus . Monotypic.
Distribution. Sumatra. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 455—
560 mm, tail 90-110 mm, hindfoot 68-75 mm; weight 3.8-5.4 kg. The Sumatran Porcupine is intermediate in size, and its quill development is between the Philippine Porcupine ( H. pumila ) (smaller) and the Thick-spined Porcupine ( H. crassispinis ) (larger). The Sumatran Porcupine is distinctly speckled from white tips of spines on cheeks, neck, shoulders, flanks, and anterior part of back. Posterior of back has many defensive quills (more than the Philippine Porcupine and fewer than the Thick-spined Porcupine); number of quills with white tips is either equal to or less than number of quills with black tips. On quills with white tips, length of white is 10-30 mm and is almost always shorter than on the Thickspined Porcupine. On tail of the Sumatran Porcupine, rattle-quills are very small, no larger than on the Philippine Porcupine and always shorter than on the Thick-spined Porcupine. Lengths of hollow capsule-like parts of rattle-quills are 12-16 mm. There is no crest on head. Maximum diameters of thickest defensive quills on back are 5—7 mm and colored as a single dark band with a white tip ¢.70 mm in length. Skull of the Sumatran Porcupine is relatively broader and nasals shorter than those of the Thickspined Porcupine. ~
Habitat. Variety of primary and secondary habitats from sea level to elevations of at least 300 m.
Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.
Breeding. There is no information available for this species.
Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Sumatran Porcupine is common and can occur at higher densities in secondary or disturbed habitats than in primary habitats.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Sumatran Porcupine is hunted for food, but hunting it not a serious conservation threat. Endemic island rodents such as the Sumatran Porcupine may be particularly at risk of extinction and require further study.
Bibliography. Amori, Gippoliti & Helgen (2008), Aplin, Frost et al. (2008), Corbet & Hill (1992), Nowak (1999a), Storch (1990), van Weers (1978), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.