Evidence of scavenging behaviour in crested porcupine

Abstract

The vegetarian diet of many herbivorous mammals is supplemented with proteins of animal origin, especially in young individuals and in breeding females, to provide key proteins necessary for both growth and breeding. Among porcupine species, only the Cape porcupine ( Hystrix africaeaustralis ) has been observed to consume carrion flesh. From June to August 2019, a pigeon carcass was placed together with corn in 7 study settlements and near 2 monitored capture-traps, in order to assess the carrion flesh feeding habits of the crested porcupine ( Hystrix cristata ) . Scavenging behaviour was recorded on four occasions. All the recorded individuals were adults and at least one was female. This demonstrates that the crested porcupine occasionally does eat flesh. Such evidence raises important questions concerning the relationship between feeding habits and the physiological needs of this herbivorous rodent.

Preliminary investigation on enzymatic activity in saliva of Hystrix cristata L., 1758

“…In conclusion, the results obtained in this investigation support the prediction that the enzymatic activity in crested porcupine saliva is similar to those of other omnivorous rodent and give a biochemical support to the ethological evidences previously reported by Coppola, Guerrieri, et al (2020). Moreover, this investigation provides new knowledge on crested porcupine saliva enzymes that may be a useful tool for further investigation on the adaptive response of crested porcupine in relation to different environmental condition and diet and for the evaluation of health and nutritional status of this rodent.…”

“…In Italy, the crested porcupine adopts a generalist feeding strategy linked to seasonal availability of food (Bruno & Riccardi, 1995; Lovari et al, 2017). The crested porcupine also performs osteophagia and sometimes eats on carrion, thereby occasionally behaving as an omnivorous rodent rather than strictly herbivorous as previously reported (Coppola, Guerrieri, et al, 2020; Santini, 1980). Very little data are available on the health status of this rodent; however, recent studies indicate the crested porcupine as a new potential source in the epidemiology routes of zoonotic diseases as Giardiasis and Leptospirosis (Cilia et al, 2020; Coppola, Cilia, et al, 2020; Coppola, Maestrini, Berrilli, et al, 2020).…”

“…In crested porcupine, despite the saliva and intestinal enzyme activity across species is not comparable, N‐aminopeptidase activity pattern resulted similar to those reported for omnivorous rather than for herbivorous rodents. Variation in N‐aminopeptidase activity in crested porcupine saliva could also be related to a physiological state since it has shown scavenging behaviour (Coppola, Guerrieri, et al, 2020). Further investigations focussed on assessing physiological variation in N‐aminopeptidase activity in crested porcupine saliva are also desirable.…”

Reproductive behaviour in free-ranging crested porcupine Hystrix cristata L., 1758

“…The crested porcupine is a naturalized rodent of African origin and it is widely distributed across peninsular Italy and in the Islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Elba 24 , 25 nevertheless, very little is known on its reproduction biology. So far, due to their elusive, burrowing, mainly nocturnal habits 26 – 29 the available data on porcupine reproduction only apply to captive specimens 10 , 13 , 14 . The aim of this study was to investigate unknown aspects of crested porcupine in the wild and assess if wild crested porcupine reproduction behaviour differs from captive ones.…”

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

“…It is monogamous and lives in burrows in family groups [ 15 , 16 ]. It is mainly herbivorous and mainly nocturnal [ 17 , 18 ]. The back, rump, and hips of the porcupine body are covered in long erectile quills functioning as defence–offense weapons [ 19 , 20 ].…”