When quills kill: the defense strategy of the crested porcupine Hystrix cristata L., 1758

Mori, Emiliano; Maggini, Ivan; Menchetti, Mattia

doi:10.1515/mammalia-2013-0126

Cited by 41 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Hence, during bright moonlit nights, hunting effectiveness of canids is greater (e.g. Lima Sàbato et al ., ; Kotler et al ., ), including red foxes (Molsher, Gifford & McIlroy, ) and wolves (Theuerkauf et al ., ), potential predators of the crested porcupine (Mori et al ., ). In particular, red foxes can shift prey selection when the lunar phase changes (Molsher et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Prugh & Golden ). As for Italy, this quill‐covered rodent is an occasional prey of red foxes (Lucherini, Lovari & Crema, ) and it has been reported in the diet of the wolf only locally (Mori et al ., ). Furthermore, we have no evidence of predation events on our adult radio‐tagged porcupines.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Italy, predation on young crested porcupines H. cristata L., 1758 has been reported only for the red fox Vulpes vulpes and for the wolf Canis lupus (Mori et al ., ). Information on the activity of this species with regard to lunar phases is limited to two studies with a very small number of radio‐tagged individuals (1 individual: Pigozzi & Patterson 1990; 4 individuals: Corsini et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…During daylight (Hystrix cristata, Corsini et al, 1995) and on moonlight periods (H. indica, Saltz & Alkon, 1989), porcupines tend to remain close to their dens. Although welldefended by a quill-armed body (Mori, Maggini & Menchetti, 2014), OWPs may be preyed upon by large carnivores (e.g. Mills & Shenk, 1992;Breuer, 2005;Lovari, Ventimiglia & Minder, 2013a), and their high sensitivity to predation risk was experimentally suggested by Brown & Alkon (1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Self‐defence may not be enough: moonlight avoidance in a large, spiny rodent

et al. 2014

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Predation avoidance is one of the main factors determining nocturnal activity of mammals, which has been shaped by evolution in relation to local environmental variables. The nocturnal activity of 16 female and 11 male radio-tagged adult crested porcupines Hystrix cristata was studied in four study sites of Southern Tuscany (Central Italy), with different environmental features. The activity patterns of porcupines, monitored for 16-23 h per week per individual, were correlated to lunar phases, in open/closed habitat types, throughout the year. The median duration of nocturnal activity was 7 h and 38 min, with no significant seasonal variation. Moonlight avoidance was shown in all our study sites, throughout the year, especially in open habitats. Full moon, irrespective of its visibility, always inhibited activity of this large rodent. Old World porcupines originated 5 million years ago in the forests of Asia and Africa, where a number of large carnivores must have preyed -and still prey -on them. Most likely, moonlight avoidance evolved as an antipredatory behaviour. In areas with no or little predation risk for example our study sites, moonlight avoidance could have been kept in the repertoire of porcupines because of its non-maladaptive nature.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Self‐defence may not be enough: moonlight avoidance in a large, spiny rodent

et al. 2014

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“…Estimated density of the species in the study area is one of the highest among mammals and, if confirmation of its alien origins will occur, impacts on native species should be investigated (cf. Mori et al 2014c).…”

Section: Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theriofauna of Site of Community Importance Poggi di Prata (Grosseto, Central Italy): Terrestrial mammals and preliminary data on Chiroptera

Mori¹,

Menchetti²,

Dondini³

et al. 2014

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Spatiotemporal patterns of wolf, mesocarnivores and prey in a Mediterranean area

Rossa

Lovari

Ferretti

2021

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Spatial and temporal occurrence can mediate behavioural interactions between apex predators, mesocarnivores and herbivores. Predators should adapt their activity to that of prey, whereas predator avoidance would be expected to influence activity patterns and space use of prey and smaller competitors. We evaluated interspecific spatiotemporal relationships in a prey-rich community including an apex predator (the wolf), three wild ungulates and several smaller herbivores/mesocarnivores, through camera trapping. All considered species (i.e. wolves and potential prey/smaller competitors: wild boar, fallow deer, roe deer, crested porcupine, red fox and European badger) were active especially at night and/or twilight. Among wild ungulates, the wolf showed the greatest temporal overlap with the wild boar and the lowest one with the least abundant and used of them, i.e. the roe deer. The main prey (i.e. the fallow deer) showed more diurnal activity and a lower temporal overlap with the predator in sites with high wolf activity than in low-activity ones. Among mesocarnivores, the red fox showed extensive temporal overlap with the wolf: the overlap between the two canids was greater in sites intensively used by this apex predator than in sites with low wolf activity, supporting a concurrent study which suggested a potential for facilitative—rather than competitive—interactions. Spatiotemporal relationships suggest complex interactions between the apex predator, prey and smaller carnivores, for which a substantial temporal or spatial association was often supported. Significance statement There is a growing interest in the influence of apex predators on ecosystems through their effects on the behaviour of prey and smaller carnivores, especially in the light of the ongoing recovery of large carnivores in temperate areas. Predators should synchronise their activity to that of prey; conversely, prey and smaller carnivores would be expected to avoid predators. In a rich community including the wolf, three wild ungulates and several mesomammals, we detected (i) a substantial temporal overlap between wolves and wild boar, porcupines and mesocarnivores; (ii) a negative temporal association between the predator and its main prey (i.e. the fallow deer) and (iii) a great temporal overlap between the wolf and the red fox. We provide a baseline to evaluate temporal changes of predator-prey-mesocarnivore behavioural interactions along with variations of carnivore-prey densities.

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When quills kill: the defense strategy of the crested porcupine Hystrix cristata L., 1758

Cited by 41 publications

References 11 publications

Self‐defence may not be enough: moonlight avoidance in a large, spiny rodent

Self‐defence may not be enough: moonlight avoidance in a large, spiny rodent

Theriofauna of Site of Community Importance Poggi di Prata (Grosseto, Central Italy): Terrestrial mammals and preliminary data on Chiroptera

Spatiotemporal patterns of wolf, mesocarnivores and prey in a Mediterranean area

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