scholarly journals Blessing the rains down in Africa: spatiotemporal behaviour of the crested porcupine Hystrix cristata (Mammalia: Rodentia) in the rainy and dry seasons, in the African savannah

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Viviano ◽  
Giovanni Amori ◽  
Luca Luiselli ◽  
Horst Oebel ◽  
Farid Bahleman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Wild Mammals ◽  
Activity Rhythms ◽  
Hystrix Cristata ◽  
Crested Porcupine ◽  
Birth Peak

The assessment of habitat selection and temporal patterns of activity rhythms is paramount for wildlife conservation. Studies on behavioural ecology of wild mammals are particularly challenging in tropical areas, mostly when involving rare or elusive species. Despite being a common species in Italy, the crested porcupine Hystrix cristata is threatened of extinction throughout most of its sub-Saharan range. All available information on the ecology of this species has been collected in Italy, whereas no data is present in the scientific literature on spatiotemporal behaviour of this large rodent in Africa. In this work, we attempted to determine habitat selection and temporal patterns of activity rhythms of the crested porcupine in northern Benin and neighbouring countries, through intensive camera-trapping. We collected a total of 146 records of crested porcupine, 91 in the dry season (October-March) and 55 in the rainy season (April-September). Porcupines used most habitats in proportion to their local availability, while selecting rock outcrop formations (possibly used as shelter sites) and avoiding open areas, wetlands and gallery forests. A mostly nocturnal behaviour was confirmed throughout the year, with some diurnal activity at the start and at the end of the rainy season. The importance of rains in determining birth peak has been also showed, with juvenile individuals always observed at the start and at the end of the rainy season. Full moon always inhibited activity of this large rodent, most likely evolved as an antipredatory behaviour to limit encounters with potential predators (common leopard Panthera pardus, spotted hyaena Crocuta crocuta and honey badger Mellivora capensis) and humans. Poaching pressure towards porcupines in West Africa is strong. Porcupines are killed for the traditional medicine, for their meat and because they are widely considered as a crop pest. This assessment should therefore be used as a basic tool to design conservation plans to preserve this rodent species in its native range.

Seasonal consumption of insects by the crested porcupine in Central Italy

Mammalia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emiliano Mori ◽  
Milos Di Gregorio ◽  
Giuseppe Mazza ◽  
Gentile Francesco Ficetola
Keyword(s):  
Central Italy ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Nutritional Requirements ◽  
Absolute Frequency ◽  
Animal Food ◽  
Hystrix Cristata ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Crested Porcupine ◽  
Birth Peak ◽  
Main Component

AbstractMany herbivorous, granivorous and frugivorous rodents can integrate animal proteins in their diet, still for many of them no information is available on the importance of animal food sources. The crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata, is considered a strictly vegetarian rodent. It may integrate animal proteins through bone-gnawing, while the importance of insects in his diet is poorly known. In this study we assessed the presence of insects in the diet of this rodent in Central Italy by collecting 141 faecal samples along transects in 2016–2020. Hypogeal plant organs were the main component of the diet (absolute frequency = 50.38%; volume = 60.13%). Insects were detected only in 6.8% samples, only in February–March, at the annual birth peak for the crested porcupine. Insect consumption, although occasional, could be linked to the nutritional requirements of this rodent during lactation.

Pulmonary Adiaspiromycosis in a Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata) in Italy

2012 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
F. Morandi ◽  
R. Galuppi ◽  
M. Delogu ◽  
L.J. Lowenstine ◽  
C. Benazzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hystrix Cristata ◽  
Crested Porcupine

scholarly journals Isolation of Leptospira serovar Pomona from a crested porcupine ( Hystrix cristata , L., 1758)

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 985-991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Cilia ◽  
Fabrizio Bertelloni ◽  
Francesca Coppola ◽  
Barbara Turchi ◽  
Claudia Biliotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hystrix Cristata ◽  
Crested Porcupine

Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata L.): A New Potential Host for Pathogenic Leptospira Among Semi-Fossorial Mammals

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 101472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Coppola ◽  
Giovanni Cilia ◽  
Fabrizio Bertelloni ◽  
Lucia Casini ◽  
Enrico D’Addio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Leptospira ◽  
Potential Host ◽  
Hystrix Cristata ◽  
Crested Porcupine

Industrial Development and Wildlife Conservation

1975 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
John G. Kelcey
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Development ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Landscape Management ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Public Access ◽  
General Situation ◽  
Wilderness Areas ◽  
Industrial Complexes ◽  
New Habitats

The general situation concerning the contribution that industrial development has made to the conservation of wildlife in Britain is reviewed. Two major types of site have been identified, namely discrete and linear, each being divided into a number of categories, with further subdivisions depending upon the nature of the site: for example, used or disused (canals, railways, etc.) or wet or dry (gravel pits, clay pits, etc.).The wildlife value of a representative sample of sites of each type is described qualitatively. It is argued that industrial development produces areas which are often richer in wildlife than much of the remaining rural or urban environment. This results from the existence of ‘wilderness areas’ within industrial complexes, from the creation of new habitats, from the passage of time, and from the protection given against public access and against intensive agricultural, forestry, and landscape, management. The linear systems are seen as forming a network of ‘wildlife corridors’ linking together discrete sites, thus providing reservoirs for the colonization of new habitats and enabling wildlife to survive in close proximity to intensively used urban and rural land. Many ‘industrial sites’ provide facilities for field studies, environmental trails, and environmental education, as well as forming the basis of country or linear parks. They also enable many rare species to survive, and probably prevent many of the common species from becoming less frequent.

scholarly journals Field Chemical Immobilization of Free-Ranging Crested Porcupines with Zoletil®: A Reviewed Dosage

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
Francesca Coppola ◽  
Enrico D’Addio ◽  
Lucia Casini ◽  
Simona Sagona ◽  
Antonio Felicioli
Keyword(s):  
Induction Time ◽  
Muscle Relaxation ◽  
Safety Margin ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Chemical Immobilization ◽  
Wild Mammals ◽  
Recovery Times ◽  
Crested Porcupine ◽  
Time Average ◽  
Free Ranging

The tiletamine-zolazepam mixture is a widely used anesthetic for chemical immobilization of wild mammals due to its short induction time, good muscle relaxation, smooth recovery with low convulsions occurrence, and minimal effect on respiration. An injection dose of 7–8 mg/kg of tiletamine-zolazepam has been proven to be an effective and safe immobilizing mixture for crested porcupines under field conditions. However, the occurrence of long immobilization and recovery times, with high excitement and convulsion during awakening, were recorded. In order to reduce such side effects after recovery, the effectiveness of a lower dosage (4–6 mg/kg) of tiletamine-zolazepam (Zoletil®) was tested. The results obtained confirm that the use of tiletamine-zolazepam in crested porcupine immobilization provides a quick induction, wide safety margin, and predictable awakening under field conditions. A smaller injection dosage of 5 mg/kg has been proven to be sufficient to ensure a short induction time (average: 7.1 min), with good muscle relaxation and little excitement of the animals during awakening. The lower dosage of tiletamine-zolazepam, while providing a shorter recovery time (average: 53.6 min), proves to be adequate for standard handling procedures. Furthermore, the smaller amount of tiletamine-zolazepam also ensures safe immobilization for pregnant individuals and porcupettes.

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