Hystrix javanica (F. Cuvier, 1823)

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Hystricidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 304-312 : 309

8.

Sunda Porcupine

Hystrix javanica

French: Porc-épic de Java / German: Sunda-Stachelschwein / Spanish: Puercoespin de la Sonda

Other common names: Javan Porcupine

Taxonomy. Hystrix javanica F. Cuvier, 1823 ,

Java.

Hystrix javanica is in subgenus Acanthion. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to Java (including Madura I) and the Lesser Sunda Is (Bali, LLombok, Sumbawa, and Flores), also Rinca I and the nearby Tanah Jampea I (Selayar group). Recorded in SW Sulawesi, where probably introduced.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 455- 660 mm, tail 60-170 mm; aveleht 8-27 kg. The Sunda Porcupine is brownish, with dark but speckled appearance on back and sides and short tail. In general, quills on body are weakly developed; diameters of thickest quills are 3-5-6-1 mm, and lengths of longest quills are 80-155 mm. Quills on back have single broad black bands, ¢.40- 50 mm in length with relatively short white tips of ¢.25-35 mm. Mixed in are quills with black tips and maximum lengths of 40-65 mm; these make up 50% or more of quills and give the Sunda Porcupine a dark appearance. There are white-tipped bristles on cheeks, shoulders, and sides, giving these areas a speckled appearance. White-tipped bristles are sometimes present on head and shoulders, but they are not longer than quills ofsides of head or body and do not resemble a crest. Lengths of nasal bones are 34:6-43-1% of occipito-nasal length, and breadths of nasals are 33:4-45-9% of zygomatic breadth. Like other species of Hystrix , tail has rattle-quills; the largest diameters are 3-1-4-8 mm. Lengths of hollow parts of rattle-quills are 15-20 mm. Sunda Porcupines on the Lesser Sunda Islands tend to be smaller than those on Java.

Habitat. Primarily in lowlands, with secondary and degraded habitats. The Sunda Porcupine occurs in Indonesian mangroves.

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. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Endemic island rodents such as the Sunda Porcupine may be particularly at risk of extinction and require further study.

Bibliography. Amori, Gippoliti & Helgen (2008), Corbet & Hill (1992), Low etal. (1994), Lunde & Aplin (2008a), Nowak (1999a), Storch (1990), van Weers (1979), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005).

Figures

Distribution. Endemic to Java (including Madura I) and the Lesser Sunda Is (Bali, LLombok, Sumbawa, and Flores), also Rinca I and the nearby Tanah Jampea I (Selayar group). Recorded in SW Sulawesi, where probably introduced.