"African Crested Porcupines" - which species are they?

birdsandbats

birdsandbats

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
The African Crested Porcupine is a species that is of course extremely common in North American zoos and one I see all the time. Until recently I assumed they were all the same species. But I recently learned that there are two species - Hystrix africaeaustralis and Hystrix cristata. I've seen animals signed as both but I never really gave any thought as to seeing two different names.

Are both of these species kept? Or is it only one species that gets signed as the wrong species a lot?

I'm primarily interested in North America here but curious to hear about other regions as well.
 
Even though I am not from North America myself the situation in the UK can also be very difficult.

For example I visited a zoo last weekend and they signed the species as H.africaeautralis but I went on Zootierliste just to make sure they had the correct species (as common names are indeed very misleading at times) and it shows the hold both the species which is now making me query whether I've seen H.africaeautralis (which I already have photographed, I think) or H.cristata.

A quick search has led me to this: They (H.africaeautralis) are similar in appearance to, and only slightly larger than, their close relatives, the crested porcupines, and can most easily be distinguished from them by the presence of a band of short white spines along the midline of the rump.

Unless you have a good photo of a porcupine's rump you may struggle to find out the difference between them. :confused:
 
I'm fairly certain both are kept. Hystrix cristata is known in zoos in the U.S. , And Cape porcupines are listed as being kept in certain collections, based on photos of both on zoochat. Generally they do look different in morphology, but they both have nearly the same coat patterns, so I could see why it could be confusing for some. :)
 
I used to think they were the same thing as well, and I can't see that many differences between the two. I'm not sure about North America, but I looked up both species on Zootierliste and both species seem to be a dime a dozen in Europe. Here in the UK, 26 zoos have Hystrix Cristata and 31 have Hystrix Africaeaustralis, in the couple of zoos I've been to that keep Africaeaustralis, they just use the name "Cape Porcupine" instead of Crested or African Crested.
 
Jambi said:
I used to think they were the same thing as well, and I can't see that many differences between the two. I'm not sure about North America, but I looked up both species on Zootierliste and both species seem to be a dime a dozen in Europe. Here in the UK, 26 zoos have Hystrix Cristata and 31 have Hystrix Africaeaustralis, in the couple of zoos I've been to that keep Africaeaustralis, they just use the name "Cape Porcupine" instead of Crested or African Crested.
Click to expand...
Minnesota is the only collection I've ever seen that signed either of species as anything other than "African Crested Porcupine", (they signed it as Cape Porcupine) so the signage won't be any help to me for the most part.
 
Cape porcupines are slightly larger than crested, and @Prochilodus246 mentioned and I believe is correct in saying, the quill/tails are slightly different, but not immediately noticeable.
And it's also noteworthy that Indian crested porcupines are very similar looking, yet we don't confuse them?:confused:
I know I do.
 
CheeseChameleon1945 said:
Cape porcupines are slightly larger than crested, and @Prochilodus246 mentioned and I believe is correct in saying, the quill/tails are slightly different, but not immediately noticeable.
And it's also noteworthy that Indian crested porcupines are very similar looking, yet we don't confuse them?:confused:
I know I do.
Click to expand...
I don't confuse them because when an animal as signed as "African Crested Porcupine" I can rule out the Indian species. :p

Also that species I know isn't very common in North American zoos.
 
birdsandbats said:
I don't confuse them because when an animal as signed as "African Crested Porcupine" I can rule out the Indian species. :p

Also that species I know isn't very common in North American zoos.
Click to expand...
Ah, I see, so youre confusing signage as well.
I was strictly thinking in a physical appearance mindset.
Got it.
 
I also used to believe they were the same species, mostly because the Lake Superior Zoo signed their Cape Porcupine as "African Crested" for the longest time until they changed it to Cape in 2020. If I remember correctly, the Minnesota Zoo also used to refer to their Cape Porcupines as "African Crested" until just last month. I definitely more would make the distinction clearer, as it's a nightmare to figure out who holds what species.
 
I see animals signed as "cape" porcupine occasionally and had no idea there was ID confusion with them, beyond me not knowing how to tell them apart for when a place has them unsigned, or labelled as "African porcupine".
 
This has nothing to do with the OP other than it pertains to African Porcupines, Hystrix sp. As you know, they are very large for rodents, and their spines/quills can be up to half a meter in length.

True story: I was working as a zoo keeper. My assignment at the time included a pair of African Crested or Cape Porcupines (I don't remember which of the two species). The female was fairly timid but the male could be aggressive. We did not have a switch space. The strategy employed for cleaning was that two of us would go in, one armed with a large broom who would temporarily corner the two animals while the other of us did the cleaning. (You really just had to corner the male, and the female would pretty much automatically join him in the corner.) That particular day I had the cleaning duty. My co-worker dutifully cornered the animals. Then there was a sudden, very loud and startling commotion outside the cage. She instinctively turned to look. That moved the broom just enough so that the male shot out, turned around and charged me.

The good news was that the exhibit included a climbable tree. Up I went, avoiding any injury except to my professional dignity. Fortunately, the porcupine can't climb a tree while charging backwards. She got him cornered again, and I finished the job. She apologized.
 
Gomphothere said:
This has nothing to do with the OP other than it pertains to African Porcupines, Hystrix sp. As you know, they are very large for rodents, and their spines/quills can be up to half a meter in length.

True story: I was working as a zoo keeper. My assignment at the time included a pair of African Crested or Cape Porcupines (I don't remember which of the two species). The female was fairly timid but the male could be aggressive. We did not have a switch space. The strategy employed for cleaning was that two of us would go in, one armed with a large broom who would temporarily corner the two animals while the other of us did the cleaning. (You really just had to corner the male, and the female would pretty much automatically join him in the corner.) That particular day I had the cleaning duty. My co-worker dutifully cornered the animals. Then there was a sudden, very loud and startling commotion outside the cage. She instinctively turned to look. That moved the broom just enough so that the male shot out, turned around and charged me.

The good news was that the exhibit included a climbable tree. Up I went, avoiding any injury except to my professional dignity. Fortunately, the porcupine can't climb a tree while charging backwards. She got him cornered again, and I finished the job. She apologized.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately "African Crested Porcupine" refers to both species, not one or the other.
 
Found this thread a few days ago and bumping it as I too am so confused trying to confirm what "African crested" porcupines are present here in the US and which zoos have which species. I've been looking for any way to identify them besides for this midline rump thing; I'm not sure how one would even be able to examine a porcupines butt with all those quills.

I decided to use zootierliste and search through supposed holders of each species and see if I can notice anything different between them. I also made sure that each zoo also didn't have Indian Crested Porcupines, which might throw in a whole new set of issues. One thing I did right away notice searching through a bunch of holders is that the front hairs/soft quills on the head of Hystrix cristata adults were always colored black or brown, whereas in africaeautralis adults the crest has prominent amounts of white at the tip. Confusingly, the porcupines pictured in the Hystrix cristata profile on zootierliste are white-tipped but seriously looking at every zoo with photos of the specimens online and I was able to see a clear and consistent color difference. Some examples of each:

Hystrix cristata:
Parc Animalier de Casteil, France
Wild Discovery (Preston), UK
Zurich Zoo, Switzerland
Tier-Erlebnispark Bell, Germany

Hystrix africaeaustralis:
London Zoo, UK
Leipzig Zoo, Germany

I do hope there's someone on this forum that can confirm if this difference is reliable or not.

As for the USA with zoos labeling both species, looking through my own personal photos taken at nearly 20 different zoos that hold "crested" porcupine (many labeled cristata) where I can clearly see the head crest, they are all prominently white-tipped. If this head crest color difference is reliable, then they're probably all just Cape Porcupines over here.

Some USA examples (online, not my personal photos)

Franklin Park Zoo (labeled as cristata - at least when I visited last summer)
Los Angeles Zoo (labeled as africaeaustralis)
Zoo Tampa (labeled as cristata)
Plumpton Park Zoo (labeled as cristata - small unaccredited zoo)
 
SusScrofa said:
Found this thread a few days ago and bumping it as I too am so confused trying to confirm what "African crested" porcupines are present here in the US and which zoos have which species. I've been looking for any way to identify them besides for this midline rump thing; I'm not sure how one would even be able to examine a porcupines butt with all those quills.

I decided to use zootierliste and search through supposed holders of each species and see if I can notice anything different between them. I also made sure that each zoo also didn't have Indian Crested Porcupines, which might throw in a whole new set of issues. One thing I did right away notice searching through a bunch of holders is that the front hairs/soft quills on the head of Hystrix cristata adults were always colored black or brown, whereas in africaeautralis adults the crest has prominent amounts of white at the tip. Confusingly, the porcupines pictured in the Hystrix cristata profile on zootierliste are white-tipped but seriously looking at every zoo with photos of the specimens online and I was able to see a clear and consistent color difference. Some examples of each:

Hystrix cristata:
Parc Animalier de Casteil, France
Wild Discovery (Preston), UK
Zurich Zoo, Switzerland
Tier-Erlebnispark Bell, Germany

Hystrix africaeaustralis:
London Zoo, UK
Leipzig Zoo, Germany

I do hope there's someone on this forum that can confirm if this difference is reliable or not.

As for the USA with zoos labeling both species, looking through my own personal photos taken at nearly 20 different zoos that hold "crested" porcupine (many labeled cristata) where I can clearly see the head crest, they are all prominently white-tipped. If this head crest color difference is reliable, then they're probably all just Cape Porcupines over here.

Some USA examples (online, not my personal photos)

Franklin Park Zoo (labeled as cristata - at least when I visited last summer)
Los Angeles Zoo (labeled as africaeaustralis)
Zoo Tampa (labeled as cristata)
Plumpton Park Zoo (labeled as cristata - small unaccredited zoo)
Click to expand...
The colour of the crest is not a distinguishing feature. It is probably individual variation. (Also ZTL photos are not always correctly used / identified). For example, see below three photos of wild (or wild-caught) H. cristata with white crests.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure...a-near-the-entrance-of-its-den_fig3_265509571
In Italy

http://www.mammalogy.org/hystrix-cristata-563
Wild-caught from Ethiopia

Hystrix cristata - #2243 | American Society of Mammalogists
Location not given, but it is cristata judging by the lack of white rump quills.
 
Chlidonias said:
The colour of the crest is not a distinguishing feature. It is probably individual variation. (Also ZTL photos are not always correctly used / identified). For example, see below three photos of wild (or wild-caught) H. cristata with white crests.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure...a-near-the-entrance-of-its-den_fig3_265509571
In Italy

Hystrix cristata - #563 | American Society of Mammalogists
Wild-caught from Ethiopia

Hystrix cristata - #2243 | American Society of Mammalogists
Location not given, but it is cristata judging by the lack of white rump quills.
Click to expand...
Oh well, never mind then. Thanks for that info.
I tried using the rump color identification method when I first heard about it but I'm having a hard time figuring out what area exactly its talking about and also seeing any differences, the color is variable in both species at least from pictures I've seen. Here is an article about Zurich Zoos porcupines that ZTL identifies as true cristata. Theres a video and multiple images of the animals and the rump looks very white, it even has a white crest in middle. What exactly makes this a true Crested Porcupine and not a Cape Porcupine?

VIDEO: How Was This Cute Baby Porcupine Conceived? Very Very Carefully, Say Experts - Zenger News
 
SusScrofa said:
Found this thread a few days ago and bumping it as I too am so confused trying to confirm what "African crested" porcupines are present here in the US and which zoos have which species. I've been looking for any way to identify them besides for this midline rump thing; I'm not sure how one would even be able to examine a porcupines butt with all those quills.

I decided to use zootierliste and search through supposed holders of each species and see if I can notice anything different between them. I also made sure that each zoo also didn't have Indian Crested Porcupines, which might throw in a whole new set of issues. One thing I did right away notice searching through a bunch of holders is that the front hairs/soft quills on the head of Hystrix cristata adults were always colored black or brown, whereas in africaeautralis adults the crest has prominent amounts of white at the tip. Confusingly, the porcupines pictured in the Hystrix cristata profile on zootierliste are white-tipped but seriously looking at every zoo with photos of the specimens online and I was able to see a clear and consistent color difference. Some examples of each:

Hystrix cristata:
Parc Animalier de Casteil, France
Wild Discovery (Preston), UK
Zurich Zoo, Switzerland
Tier-Erlebnispark Bell, Germany

Hystrix africaeaustralis:
London Zoo, UK
Leipzig Zoo, Germany

I do hope there's someone on this forum that can confirm if this difference is reliable or not.

As for the USA with zoos labeling both species, looking through my own personal photos taken at nearly 20 different zoos that hold "crested" porcupine (many labeled cristata) where I can clearly see the head crest, they are all prominently white-tipped. If this head crest color difference is reliable, then they're probably all just Cape Porcupines over here.

Some USA examples (online, not my personal photos)

Franklin Park Zoo (labeled as cristata - at least when I visited last summer)
Los Angeles Zoo (labeled as africaeaustralis)
Zoo Tampa (labeled as cristata)
Plumpton Park Zoo (labeled as cristata - small unaccredited zoo)
Click to expand...
Most, if not all, "African Crested Porcupines" in the US are Hystrix africaeaustralis. Many zoos (both accredited and unaccredited) mislabed their porcupines as H. cristata.
 
SusScrofa said:
Oh well, never mind then. Thanks for that info.
I tried using the rump color identification method when I first heard about it but I'm having a hard time figuring out what area exactly its talking about and also seeing any differences, the color is variable in both species at least from pictures I've seen. Here is an article about Zurich Zoos porcupines that ZTL identifies as true cristata. Theres a video and multiple images of the animals and the rump looks very white, it even has a white crest in middle. What exactly makes this a true Crested Porcupine and not a Cape Porcupine?

VIDEO: How Was This Cute Baby Porcupine Conceived? Very Very Carefully, Say Experts - Zenger News
Click to expand...
In those photos the animals (at least the one facing away from the camera in two of the shots) is a South African Porcupine. What you're looking for is that white stripe down the rump above the tail which is a strip of short white quills - these quills are either black or mixed in cristata (also the underside of the tail is white, which can be seen in one shot).

ZTL has various errors relating to animals being incorrectly identified by either the editors or by the zoos themselves, so it shouldn't be taken as 100% proof of anything. There was also a post on Zoochat long ago, which I cannot find right now, which (from memory) said that a study had shown that most or many of the supposed North African Porcupines in European zoos are actually South African (which I suppose would also imply there were lots of hybrids if so many are misidentified to species).
 
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