Immunohistochemical localization of irisin in skin,eye, and thyroid and pineal glands of the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata)

Irisin was first identified in muscle cells. We detected irisin immunoreactivity in various organs of the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata). In the epidermis, irisin immunoreactivity was localized mainly in stratum basale, stratum spinosum and stratum granulosum layers; immunoreactivity was not observed in the stratum corneum. In the dermis, irisin was found in the external and internal root sheath, cortex and medulla of hair follicles, and in sebaceous glands. Irisin immunoreactivity was found in the neural retina and skeletal muscle fibers associated with the eye. The pineal and thyroid glands also exhibited irisin immunoreactivity.     

基于红外相机技术对帚尾豪猪活动节律和时间分配初步观察

2012年8月至2013年7月,采用红外相机技术对广西弄岗国家级自然保护区15 hm^2森林动态监测样地及其周边区域内的帚尾豪猪(Atherurus macrourus)进行观察,采用活动强度指数分析其活动节律和时间分配,探讨月相和环境因子对其活动节律和时间分配的影响。结果表明,不同时间段内帚尾豪猪的活动强度存在极显著差异(t=4. 666,df=23,P=0. 001),活动峰值出现在20:00~21:00和05:00~06:00;夜间主要以移动(63. 2%)和觅食(23. 6%)为主。帚尾豪猪各月份间的时间分配存在极显著差异(t=8. 581,df=11,P=0. 001),旱、雨季间的时间分配存在显著差异(Z=-2. 166,P=0. 03)。各月相间帚尾豪猪出现的频次存在显著差异(χ~2=5. 00,df=1,P=0. 025),以新月期和满月期活动最为频繁,上弦月活动最少。相关性分析表明,活动强度指数与月降雨量、月最高温度及最低温度(R^2=0. 440,R^2=0. 435,R^2=0. 457)都存在显著的负相关,帚尾豪猪最适的活动温区为10℃~26℃。本研究初步掌握了帚尾豪猪在弄岗保护区的活动节律和时间分配,有助于后期理解栖息地和气候变化对其活动的影响。     

The biology and use of the African brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus, Gray, 1842)as a food animal. A review

The brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus) is a hystricomorph rodent, which frequents the forests of West and Central Africa. With an average weight of 3 kg, it is a favourite source of meat for urban and rural populations of Gabon, Nigeria, Cameroon or Congo. Hunted in large quantities, its price is often higher than that of other game or domestic animals. Although its current productivity in captivity is limited to a single young per birth and two to three births per year per female, this species could be a good candidate for minilivestock programmes in African forest areas if its current reproductive potential in captivity could be improved. Further research should be encouraged on its biology and reproduction since the current level of hunting for this species is probably not sustainable. Captive breeding programmes could play a role in assessing a better knowledge of the species' biology, and in reducing the effects of intensive hunting in areas where this activi ty is no longer sustainable.     

Handaufzucht eines männlichen Ursons Erethizon dorsatum (Linné, 1758)

One immediately after its birth orphaned American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) had to be hand raised. The diet used composed of 12% fatty milk and boiled carrots as well as sun flower oil and minerals. The daily increase of body mass averaged out has been 6 g within the first five weeks.During the first four weeks the porcupine suffered intermittently on severe health problems, mainly on pyaemia and ataxias, which could treated successfully.At first the animal was very sociable, later it tried sometimes to bite the keepers.     

Body measurements correlation and x-ray imaging of three Hystrix javanica fetuses in different fetal development stages

Hystrix javanica is endemic species in Indonesia. Study about fetal development of Hystrix javanica are very rare because of sample limitation. This study was carried out to describe the morphometrics and x-ray analysis of three fetuses in different stage to give basic information about fetal development of Hystrix javanica. Three fetus samples fixed in Bouin’s solution was used in this study. Observation was carried out to identify the characteristic of three fetus samples. This included the pattern of hair, body measurements, body volume, and body weight. X-ray analysis was carried out to know the ossification process in the fetal development. Statistical analysis was carried out using Microsoft 365® Excel program software. Three fetus samples had different specific hair pattern, that was hairless, smooth hairs, and smooth hairs with dense-non dense pattern. Body volume of 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd fetus were 23mL, 90mL, and 170mL, respectively. Body weight of 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd fetus were 19.5g, 79.22g, and 153.18g, respectively. Pearson’s correlation analysis shown strong relationship between total body length, front body length, back body length, horizontal body diameter, vertical body diameter, head length, and head diameter against body volume and body weight of three fetuses. Significant positive correlation was shown between horizontal body diameter, vertical body diameter, and head diameter against body volume and body length with P value < 0.05. Faint radiopaque images showed in the 2^nd fetus sample and strong radiopaque images showed in the 3^rd fetus sample. Radiopaque images were identified in the teeth, cranium, vertebrae, and extremities bones. In this study we concluded that there was a specific hair pattern in different fetal stage. All body measurements have positive correlation with body volume and body weight and x-ray analysis shown that the ossification of the bone was started to happen while the smooth hair was growth.     

Ultrastructure and lipid chemistry of specialized epidermal structure of Indian porcupines and hedgehog

Poddar‐Sarkar, M., Raha, P., Bhar, R., Chakraborty, A. and Brahmachary, R.L. 2011. Ultrastructure and lipid chemistry of specialized epidermal structure of Indian porcupines and hedgehog. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 92 : 134–140. In the present study, we investigated the ultrastructural variations of specialized epidermal structure of Indian porcupines (Hystrix indica and Atherurus macrourus) and hedgehog (Hemiechinus collaris) as well as the variation in the fatty acid composition of total lipid fraction. Scanning electron microscope images reveal the usual scaly structure in surface view and network of channels in cross‐section but with different orientation of partition walls. The lipid profile reveals the presence of free sterol, long‐chain alcohol, free fatty acids, wax ester and sterol ester in all the three cases and trace amount of triglyceride, diglyceride and monoglyceride. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of fatty acid methyl ester of total lipid fraction indicates the presence of C₈‐C₂₂ fatty acids in Hystrix indica, C₈‐C₁₈ in Atherurus macrourus and C₈‐C₂₀ fatty acids in Hemiechinus collaris. It is interesting to note that the total lipid fraction of hedgehog shows no branched‐chain, unsaturated and odd‐carbon fatty acids. Odd‐carbon fatty acid and branched‐chain fatty acids detected in the adult H. indica but were absent in juvenile H. indica as well as in A. macrourus. With the exception of C_18:1, the other unsaturated fatty acids were also absent in both juvenile H. indica and A. macrourus.     

Coyote and porcupine spread Russian olive seeds through endozoochory

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) is an invasive tree that has spread throughout much of the western United States. The mode of seed dispersal occurs by hydrochory and possibly by birds. Seed dispersal by frugivorous mammals has not been investigated. Between 15 October and 4 November 2020, we walked through Russian olive windbreaks in western North Dakota, USA, and surveyed for mammal scat, and found 10 coyote (Canis latrans) and 54 porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) scats that contained intact Russian olive seeds. We subsequently evaluated the viability, germination frequency, and time to germination of seeds ingested by coyote and porcupine relative to un-ingested control seeds harvested from trees at sites where we collected scat. Overall, Russian olive seeds that passed through mammal intestinal tracts had similar viability and equivalent (porcupine) or higher (coyote) germination frequency compared to controls. Additionally, coyote-ingested seeds germinated earlier (time to germination was low) than controls, but porcupine-ingested seeds were similar to controls. Thus, our data supports the idea that mammals may be agents of regional Russian olive seed dispersal.     

Vom „armen Schwein“ zur „Rampensau“ Stachelschweinhaltung (Hystrix indica Kerr, 1792) im Naturschutz-Tierpark Görlitz-Zgorzelec

The modification of the porcupine enclosure with enlargement of the area and creation of various levels and structures in combination with a feeding management that involves the visitors has essentially increased the presentation value of porcupines at Goerlitz Zoo. This kind of animal presentation requires a high-quality animal management, which has to take the behavior as well as the number of visitors into account. The activity of the porcupines has risen notably since the described modifications, which has made these exotic rodents one of the most frequented visitor attractions at the Zoo.