It is in specie of rodent animal like any other species of porcupines but its size is smaller. Its coat around the back is very long and shorter around its body. The spin on its back is flat with groove on upper surface. It has no spin on tail but it has short hair on tail base. There are pellicles around the middle part of its tail. At the tip, there is tuft of hair like brush. Such hair is bristle, which is flat like paper, sharp, and hard. But the hair on head, four limbs, and belly is sharp but not bristle. It has short legs and round ears. Its claws are unsharpened but strong and used for digging
It is found in the Southern part of China, Hainan, Assam, Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, Malaysia, and Sumatra. In Thailand, it is found in almost every part but mostly found in Trang.
It eats vegetations, grasses, taros, yarns, bamboo shoots, fruits, grubs, animal bones, insects, and horns.
It is found in forests. It likes to in forests near water, watercourses, and swamps. It digs ground to make hollows under ground. The hollow is a shelter for its family composing of father, mother, and young, which is 3 – 4 feet wide. Sometimes it makes hold near water banks. It makes a living at nighttime. It goes together with others. During daytime, it hides in soil hollow or grubs of big trees or rock fold. It can run quick and likes to shake its tail to make sound when running as its bristles hit together, which frightens other animals.
Leaet Concern
It is mature and ready for mating at the age of 2 years. Breeding season is uncertain. Gestation period is around 4 months. One litter contains 1 – 4 young. It can live up to 10 years.
Update : 06 April 2017
