Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine. Image: © dieguini, CC BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine. Image: © Juan Ma Contortrix, CC BY-NC, via iNaturalist.
Some common names: Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine, Mexican tree porcupine
Scientific name: Coendou mexicanus
Where it lives: The Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine ranges from central Mexico to Panama. It lives in mixed-mountain and coniferous forests up to elevations of 3200 meters (10,500 feet).
Range map for the Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine. Credit: IUCN Red List
Description: The Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine is a small, tree-dwelling porcupine. Adults grow to 50-80 centimeters (20-31 inches) in length, including their tail, and weigh 1.5-2.5 kilograms (3.3-5.5 pounds). Adults have brown to black hairs, while their quills are yellowish. They have a broad nose and small eyes. A prehensile (grasping) tail helps them easily climb through the treetops.
Diet: Seeds, fruits, leaves, flowers, and buds
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Review questions
- Do Mexican dwarf hairy porcupines live on the ground or in the trees?
- Why do porcupines have quills?
- Name some animals that prey on Mexican hairy dwarf porcupines.
- Mexican hairy dwarf porcupines are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. Where do they go during the day?
- We don’t know much about how Mexican hairy dwarf porcupines raise their young. Why is this?
- Porcupines are a type of rodent. Can you name three other rodents? (Need a hint? Look here.)
More learning resources
animaldiversity.org: Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine
IUCN Red List: Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine
