Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 135, March 2016, pp. 1-20. | Page 13

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Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata Linnaeus, 1758)
The Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata Linnaeus, 1758) is a species of rodent in
the Hystricidae family. It is extant in mainland Italy, Sicily, North Africa and
sub-Saharan Africa (Wikipedia).

Physical Attributes
Hystrix cristata is part of the family Hystricidae. The more common name for this
species is the Crested Porcupine. The adult Crested Porcupine has an average
head and body length of about 60 to 83 cm (24 to 33 in) long, discounting the tail,
and weighs from 13 to 27 kg (29 to 60 lb) (Wikipedia).

The Natural History Museum sign in Al-Baq’a Suburb, West Jerusalem, Occupied
Palestine. Photo: Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-von Jaffa.
27.07.2014. https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/15374678029/
Almost the entire body is covered with bristles which are either dark brown or
black and rather coarse. This mammal is recognizable by the quills that run along
the head, nape, and back that can be raised into a crest. Hence the name crested
porcupine. There are also some sturdier quills which are about 35 cm (14 in) in
length and run along the sides and back half of the body. These sturdier quills
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 135 – March 2016