The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata)
The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata), locally called “Dharbane” (الظربان), is much more than a simple curiosity of Tunisian fauna; it is a true survivor of Mediterranean landscapes and a key player in the country's biodiversity.
It is mainly found in the North-West (the forests of Kroumirie and Mogods), at Cap Bon, as well as along the Tunisian Dorsal (Djebel Zaghouan, Siliana, Kasserine). It likes areas of dense scrub, rocky hills dotted with caves and forest edges where it can dig its burrows or hide in crevices.
It is mainly found in the North-West (the forests of Kroumirie and Mogods), at Cap Bon, as well as along the Tunisian Dorsal (Djebel Zaghouan, Siliana, Kasserine). It likes areas of dense scrub, rocky hills dotted with caves and forest edges where it can dig its burrows or hide in crevices.