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Prehensile-tailed porcupine born at Stone Zoo
Baby’s arrival marks the first birth of this species at the zoo

Stoneham; Sept. 8, 2011 – The staff at Stone Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of a prehensile-tailed porcupine, which marks the first birth of this species at the zoo.

The baby, born on September 6, to Elvis, age 4, and Comica, age 10, can be seen on exhibit with its mother in the Windows to the Wild exhibit space.

The baby, which weighs 475 grams, received its first well-baby examination on Wednesday and appeared healthy, bright and alert. As with any new birth, the veterinary and animal management staffs are closely monitoring the mother and baby.

“We are thrilled to share the news of this birth at Stone Zoo,” said John Linehan, Zoo New England President and CEO. “You can’t help but be drawn to this little creature and people will be amazed to see the differences between the baby and adult. It’s another exciting birth in a season that has been filled with births and hatchings at both zoos. Each new addition provides a wonderful opportunity to educate and connect people to all of these incredible animals.”

Zoo New England participates in the Prehensile-tailed Porcupine Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is a cooperative, inter-zoo program coordinated nationally through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). SSPs are designed to maintain genetically diverse and demographically stable captive populations of species. This birth is the result of a recommended breeding between Comica and Elvis, who is very genetically valuable within the North American captive population.

Prehensile-tailed porcupines are born with their eyes open and a functional, prehensile tail. Infants have a dense coat of reddish hair and sharp natal quills about 15 millimeters long. There is very little direct contact between mom and offspring except for short periods when the baby nurses. The typical gestation period is 195-210 days and females typically give birth to one offspring.

Prehensile-tailed porcupines are primarily arboreal, nocturnal animals native to South America with an excellent sense of smell and hearing. They have yellowish to brown bodies with short black and white spines and a large furless nose. Their long prehensile tails are mostly without spines and have a callous pad on the upper side near the end. These animals use this long tail for grasping and hanging, and their clawed feet help them grip and climb. When threatened, prehensile-tailed porcupines may stand and stamp their hind legs, raise and shake their quills, and emit deep growls or high-pitched whines.

Prehensile-tailed porcupines differ from North American porcupines as they are smaller, more arboreal and have a long prehensile tail.

###

Zoo New England manages Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and Stone Zoo in Stoneham. Both are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Zoo New England's mission is to inspire people to protect and sustain the natural world for future generations by creating fun and engaging experiences that integrate wildlife and conservation programs, research, and education.

Date: 2011-09-09 03:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] asakiyume.livejournal.com
TERMINALLY cute!

Date: 2011-09-09 03:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ruthling.livejournal.com
oh no! that's too cute!

Date: 2011-09-09 03:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bedfull-o-books.livejournal.com
Holy crap that baby's cute. I must arrange a visit soon.

Date: 2011-09-09 03:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] featheredfrog.livejournal.com
Infants have a dense coat of reddish hair and sharp natal quills about 15 millimeters long.

Yeesh! In Utero quills? Bet that species doesn't have too many breech presentations.

Date: 2011-09-09 06:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bedfull-o-books.livejournal.com
As I understand it, the quills are soft in utero. They harden up once they hit the air after the baby is born. At least that's how it works in "regular" porcupines. One hopes so anyway.

Date: 2011-09-09 03:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] an-sceal.livejournal.com
That is beyond freaking adorable.

Date: 2011-09-09 05:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] goldenmoonbear.livejournal.com
Aaaah! So cute!!

Date: 2011-09-09 05:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] anais2.livejournal.com
How cute and delicious!

Date: 2011-09-09 06:37 pm (UTC)
ext_174465: (Default)
From: [identity profile] perspicuity.livejournal.com
cute much? wow.

#

Date: 2011-09-09 07:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] roaming.livejournal.com
Even more Official Diagnosis: Cute OVERLOAD!

I'm so gonna use this one as an excuse for my first ever visit to your zoo!

Date: 2011-09-09 09:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kryptyd.livejournal.com
Aww, a cute little monster!

Date: 2011-09-10 12:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wraithfodder.livejournal.com
OMG, that is one cute little prickly fella :)

Baby porcupine

Date: 2011-09-10 12:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pingback-bot.livejournal.com
User [livejournal.com profile] wraithfodder referenced to your post from Baby porcupine (http://splodefromcute.livejournal.com/1780825.html) saying: [...] with photos of the baby porcupine, at this LJ entry. http://urbpan.livejournal.com/1275486.html [...]

Date: 2011-09-10 01:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elainetyger.livejournal.com
He is cute! (I like his ponytail!)

Date: 2011-09-10 03:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gryfindormia.livejournal.com
Dawwwwww. Little critter looks like someone left him under the hair dryer too long.

Wow

Date: 2011-09-10 03:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gythiawulfie.livejournal.com
His color is what struck me the most, but wins major big time in the cuteness department.

Date: 2011-09-10 08:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] drhoz.livejournal.com
SQUEEE!!!!

A new Gold Standard in Adorable

Date: 2011-09-10 08:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pingback-bot.livejournal.com
User [livejournal.com profile] drhoz referenced to your post from A new Gold Standard in Adorable (http://drhoz.livejournal.com/819926.html) saying: [...] Baby Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine [...]

purcupine

Date: 2011-09-10 11:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eileen wise (from livejournal.com)
Just adorable, truly cuteness!

poor little porcupine...

Date: 2011-09-10 12:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dedhamoutdoors.livejournal.com
definitely a case of chronic cuteness, doomed to a lifetime of people saying "awwwwwwwwww" and "soooooo cuuuuuuuuuute!"

Date: 2011-09-11 01:10 am (UTC)
ext_76029: red dragon (observer)
From: [identity profile] copperwolf.livejournal.com
Why is this your only post with the "cutenesses" tag? I'm sure you have other posts about cute critters, such as the baby ducks....

Date: 2011-09-11 03:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] urbpan.livejournal.com
It's a BRAND NEW TAG!!1!!

Now usable for more cutenesses!!!

Date: 2011-09-22 05:29 pm (UTC)
weofodthignen: selfportrait with Rune the cat (Default)
From: [personal profile] weofodthignen
Awwww, pretty baby :-)

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