Prehensile-Tailed Porcupines
Tree-dwelling cuties with amazing gripping tails
About Our Prehensile-Tailed Porcupines
Our prehensile-tailed porcupines are fascinating tree-dwelling rodents native to South America! What makes them truly special is their incredible prehensile tail, which works like a fifth limb to grip branches as they climb through the forest canopy.
Despite their quills, these porcupines are gentle and curious. They cannot shoot their quills - that's a myth! The quills detach on contact as a defense mechanism. Our porcupines are well-socialized and enjoy interacting with visitors.
These nocturnal herbivores spend most of their time in trees, eating bark, leaves, fruits, and flowers. Weighing just 4-11 pounds, they're smaller than their North American cousins but equally charming with their expressive faces and curious nature!
Fun Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine Facts
Amazing gripping tail
Their prehensile tail acts as a fifth limb, helping them grip branches and hang upside down while feeding!
Tree-dwelling lifestyle
Unlike ground-dwelling porcupines, these South American natives spend most of their lives high in the forest canopy.
They can't shoot their quills
This is a myth! Quills detach on contact, but they can't be launched like projectiles.
Smaller than you'd think
Weighing just 4-11 pounds, they're much smaller than North American porcupines!
Baby porcupines are called porcupettes
They're born with soft, reddish quills that harden within a few days of birth.
Can live 12-17 years
With proper care, these gentle porcupines make long-lived animal ambassadors!
Photo Gallery
Visit Our Prehensile-Tailed Porcupines
Come meet our gentle, tree-loving porcupines and see their amazing gripping tails in action!