Coendou prehensilis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	ERETHIZONTIDAE

Scientific Name:

Coendou prehensilis

Species Authority:

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Brazilian Porcupine

Taxonomic Notes:

This species has a considerable geographic variation and this may be a species complex (Marinho-Filho and Langguth pers. comm.).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Marinho-Filho, J., Queirolo, D. & Emmons, L.

Evaluator/s:

McKnight, M. (Global Mammal Assessment Team) & Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority)

Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, occurrence in a number of protected areas, tolerance to some degree of habitat modification, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is broadly distributed from Colombia and Venezuela south to northern Argentina (Eisenberg and Redford, 1999); occurring in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela (Alberico et al. 2000; Emmons and Feer 1997; Zapata and Castro 2001).
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Bolivia; Brazil; Colombia; French Guiana; Guyana; Paraguay; Peru; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; Venezuela
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	This is rare in some areas but is the common, dominant mammal in others.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Lives in dry and wet forests, disturbed and undisturbed forests. The species is nocturnal and herbivorous (Eisenberg and Redford 1999). It rests in tree cavities or canopies during the day. Sexual maturity is reached at about nineteen months and they remain reproductively active for more than twelve years. There is no reproductive season but the reproductive interval is about 203 days. Gestation lasts up to 203 days after which one young is born (Eisenberg and Redford 1999).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Lives in dry and wet forests, disturbed and undisturbed forests.

The species is nocturnal and herbivorous (Eisenberg and Redford 1999). It rests in tree cavities or canopies during the day. Sexual maturity is reached at about nineteen months and they remain reproductively active for more than twelve years. There is no reproductive season but the reproductive interval is about 203 days. Gestation lasts up to 203 days after which one young is born (Eisenberg and Redford 1999).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no known major threats to this species at this time.

Major Threat(s):

There are no known major threats to this species at this time.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no known conservation measures specific to this species. However, there are several protected areas within its range.

Conservation Actions:

There are no known conservation measures specific to this species. However, there are several protected areas within its range.

Citation:	Marinho-Filho, J., Queirolo, D. & Emmons, L. 2008. Coendou prehensilis. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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