Hystrix sumatrae (Lyon, 1907)

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 : 307

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

 

4. View Plate 18: Hystricidae

Sumatran Porcupine

Hystrix sumatrae View in CoL

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).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Hystricidae

Genus

Hystrix

Loc

Hystrix sumatrae

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier 2016
2016
Loc

Thecurus sumatrae

Lyon 1907
1907
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