Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix Indika)

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Sinhalese: Ittawa, Panduru-Ittawa

Tamil: Mallam-Pandi

Description: The overall length of the adult male is about 92 cm, the female being a little smaller. The forepart is largely covered in coarse hair with a crest of long bristles, and the hind part and tail are covered by quills. Very rarely porcupines have been seen where the normal white part of the quills is reddish.

Distribution: Found in the wilder areas of the whole island, but prefers the low country.

Habits: The porcupine is entirely nocturnal spending the day lying up in some secluded rocky outcrop amongst dense undergrowth, or in a deep burrow. Sometimes two or more will share the same hillside, departing in different directions at night to feed on fruits, leaves, roots and bark. Their defense is to raise and rattle their quills, stamping their hind feet, grunting and charging backwards at the enemy.

Breeding: The gestation period does not seem to be known and usually in Sri Lanka one young is born, two to four young are recorded from India. The birth takes place in a short burrow or rocky cave.

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