Long-tailed Porcupine

Long-tailed PorcupineThis large, long-tailed porcupine occurs in Amazonia and the Cerrado. In southeastern Peru it has been recorded eating mineral-rich soil at night.What does it look like?The Amazonian subspecies has a dark-brown back with short white dashes and slightly curved, three-colored dorsal quills under 10 cm. The Cerrado subspecies has longer, strongly curved dorsal quills.How does it live?This large, long-tailed porcupine occurs in Amazonia and the Cerrado. In southeastern Peru it has been recorded eating mineral-rich soil at night.A study published in 2025 recorded 64 independent visits to mineral licks in southeastern Peru. Soil-eating was observed at 39% of monitored licks, with most visits involving a single animal at night.Keeping it safeAn extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.