Osteophagia in the Cape porcupine Hystrix africaeaustralis

Abstract

Two groups of porcupines (Hystrix africaeaustralis) were maintained for a period of 23 weeks on a diet containing high levels of Ca²⁺ and PO₄. Parallel to this another two groups were maintained on a diet containing low levels of these minerals. All groups were provided with defatted bovine bones during weeks 18 to 23 of the experiment. Plasma Ca²⁺ and PO₄ levels were determined at intervals throughout the experiment. The amount of osteophagia that occurred was determined by weighing the bones at two-weekly intervals. No significant differences in the plasma Ca²⁺ and PO₄ levels of the porcupines on the high diet and those on the low diet were detected. Osteophagia by porcupines on the low diet was twice that of porcupines on the high diet.