Sumatran porcupine
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Sumatran porcupine killed by a truck |
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| Hystrix sumatrae | ||||||||||||
| ( Lyon , 1907) |
The Sumatran porcupine ( Hystrix sumatrae ) is a species of porcupine from the genus of real porcupines ( Hystrix ). It occurs on the island of Sumatra , which belongs to Indonesia .
features
The Sumatran porcupine reaches a head and trunk length of 45.5 to 56.0 centimeters, the tail length is 9.0 to 11.0 centimeters and the weight is between 3.8 and 5.4 kilograms. The rear foot becomes 68 to 75 millimeters long. Like all real porcupines it is very large and heavy for a rodent, but medium-sized within the genus. The basic color of the animal is black, but due to the white spike tips it is speckled white on the cheeks, neck, shoulders and sides of the body as well as on the back up to the tail tassel. The front back area has numerous defensive (i.e. not actively usable) spines. The formation of the tassel and the quills are larger than those of the Philippines porcupine ( Hystrix pumila ) and smaller than those of the Borneo porcupine ( Hystrix crassispinis ). In proportion, the Sumatran porcupine has about as many or slightly fewer spines with white as with black tips; the white tip has a length of 10 to 30 millimeters and is thus shorter than that of the Borneo porcupine. The tail spines are comparatively short and correspond roughly to those of the Philippines porcupine, in both they are significantly shorter than in the Borneo porcupine. The maximum diameter of the defensive spines on the back is 5 to 7 millimeters, they have a black ring and a white tip and are around 70 millimeters long.
distribution
The Sumatran porcupine is endemic to the island of Sumatra , part of Indonesia . The altitude distribution ranges from sea level to at least 300 meters.
Way of life
Very little information is available about the way of life of the Sumatran porcupine. It occurs in both untouched primary forests and in secondary forest areas, with stand densities likely to be greater in disturbed secondary habitats. Like other porcupines, it is herbivorous and there is no information about how to reproduce.
Systematics
The Sumatran porcupine is classified as a separate species within the genus of real porcupines ( Hystrix ), which consists of eight species in Asia and Africa. The first scientific description comes from Marcus Ward Lyon from 1907, who described the species as Thecurus sumatræ . As the place of origin he gave the Aru Bay on the east coast of Sumatra. Within the genus, the species is placed in the subgenus Thecurus , which is occasionally also considered a genus of its own. Sometimes it was considered a subspecies of the Borneo porcupine ( Hystrix crassispinis ).
Apart from the nominate form, no subspecies are distinguished within the species .
Status, threat and protection
The Sumatran porcupine is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). This is justified with the comparatively large distribution area and its regular occurrence on Sumatra. It is relatively adaptable to habitat changes and the decline in stocks is relatively small. There are no known risks to the company's existence. The species is hunted locally as a source of meat, but this has little effect on the population.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d E.L. Barthelmess: Sumatran Porcupine - Hystrix sumatrae. In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (editors): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. (HMW, Volume 6), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2016; P. 324. ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4 .
- ↑ a b c d e Hystrix sumatrae in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.2. Posted by: G. Amori, K. Aplin, 2008. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
- ↑ a b c Hystrix (Thecurus) sumatrae ( Memento of the original from October 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
literature
- EL Barthelmess: Sumatran Porcupine - Hystrix sumatrae. In: Don E. Wilson, TE Lacher, Jr., Russell A. Mittermeier (editors): Handbook of the Mammals of the World: Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. (HMW, Volume 6), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2016; P. 324. ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4 .
Web links
- Hystrix sumatrae inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.2. Posted by: G. Amori, K. Aplin, 2008. Retrieved October 3, 2016.