In South Africa there are 92 species divided into 2 sub-orders:
- Histricognathi (porcupines, canerats, mole-rats, dassie-rats)
- Sciurognathi (dormices, squirrels, spring hares, rats, mice)
The Cape porcupine is the largest rodent in South Africa.
- small with short limbs and a tail
- 1 single pair of razor-sharp incisors that grow continually
- not canine teeth
- cheek pouches that allow a large store of food
- sense of smell and hearing well-developed
- touch-sensitive whiskers
- plantigrade
- eat plant products
- have large ceacum that contains bacterial flora: separate cellulose into carbohydrates that are easily digestible. Absorption takes place in stomach.
- To overcome this, they re-eat the bacterially treated food by tking pellets directly from its anus. The carbohydrates are absorbed through the stomach.
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