128 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 75 



Family Erethizontidae 



Coendou mexicanus 

 Prehensile-tailed Porcupine, Puercoespm 



Prehensile-tailed porcupines are found from east-central Mexico to extreme 

 western Panama (Fig. 100). The subspecies Coendou mexicanus laenatus is found 

 throughout most of Costa Rica from sea level to about 3,000 m. 



A prehensile-tailed porcupine was found dead along a road near the 2,050-m 

 base camp; only bones and the distinctive hair remained. If the animal had been 

 killed by hunters and the remains discarded there, it probably was taken in the 

 general vicinity. Within Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo, C. mexicanus was 

 observed near the guard station at 2,600 m and near Laguna Barva at 2,700 m. 

 Prehensile-tailed porcupines have been observed at La Selva on only five occa- 

 sions: 1965, 9 March 1980, late July 1981, 23 November 1986, and May 1987. 

 The biology of this species in Costa Rica was reviewed recently by Janzen (1983a). 



Specimen examined (1)— Finca La Selva, 3 km S of Puerto Viejo [1 female, 

 MNCR]. 



Fig. 100. Prehensile-tailed porcupine, Coendou mexicanus. Photo by B. L. Clauson. 



