We identify a porcupine in a reader's photo and separate prickly fact from fiction. Their diet consists of low-starch, high-fiber biscuits, and lots of different vegetables and fruits. Myth: Porcupines can shoot their quills. Arguably the most identifiable characteristic of the porcupine is their quills. Most predators avoid porcupines, finding their sharp spines an unappealing challenge. Porcupines are arboreal, built for climbing trees. Each species is different, yet all have a few similar qualities. Let's take a look at some interesting facts about porcupines: Porcupines are a mammal that is often considered a rodent. In zoos, porcupine care depends heavily on the species. Porcupines can somewhat talk and love to eat pumpkins. This means they eat mostly vegetation. Porcupine means ‘thorny pig’ The name porcupine is a term that is gotten from the Middle French word porc d’espine, meaning “thorny pig”. Each quill is hollow – it is yellowish in colour, with a black tip and is covered in tiny barbs. Such spiny creatures require very careful reproduction! – Source, 5. The mascot of the Libertarian Party is the porcupine. Their front feet have four toes and their back feet have five. Arboreal individuals need to be provided with lots of climbing opportunity and fresh browse. The North American range runs from northern Canada and Alaska to the Appalachian Mountains and Northern Mexico. Here are 8 Interesting Facts About Porcupine. Porcupines have soft hair, but on their back, sides, and tail it is usually mixed with sharp quills. 1. When the quills enter the skin of a predator, they work their way f… Porcupine Quills are dangerous to dogs because once they make contact with the skin, the quills can migrate further in and cause internal damage. This makes them good climbers. These quills typically lie flat until a … New World porcupines are found in forests in America. – Source, 4. Porcupines are large, slow rodents with sharp needles on their backs. It is this lust for tender green… Different species can found in desert habitats, various forests, hillsides, mountains, and rocky cliffs. What sounds like fiction but is actually a real historical event? Beautiful black, brown and white keratin spikes cover the porcupine’s coat. Each species is different, yet all have a few similar qualities. They also eat nuts, tubers, seeds, grass, leaves, fruit and buds.Though they don't eat meat, porcupines chew on bones to sharpen their teeth. No porcupine species have been domesticated in any way. Roughly 30,000 quills cover the whole body except for the stomach, nose and bottom of their feet. Some species can be well over 60 lbs., and over 2.5 ft. long. The Old World species have spines that are grouped into clusters, while the New World species have spines that are attached to the skin singly. North American porcupines breed between October and November. Its long strands of brown hair looks soft, but thousands of quills are tucked inside. Because quills are so lightly attached, they come off easily when a predator encounters them. The most characteristic feature about porcupines is obviously that they are quill bearing rodents. Porcupines are herbivores and especially like wood. – Source, 2. Old World Porcupines – The eleven different Old World species can be found across Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe. The quills are embedded in the skin and muscle of the animal. Working in pairs or as a group, one … 1. Hunting in this area has caused significant population decline. Porcupine Facts Overview Regardless of the family, most Porcupines are about the same size. Baby porcupines have the look of older porcupines. All toes have a strong, curved claw. Coyotes have a creative way of working around those spines. Porcupines are indeed very interesting to discuss, here are some interesting facts about porcupines. 1. – Source, 3. The head is roundish and rather domed, with a blunt muzzle and small eyes and ears. The male porcupine begins the mating process with a high-pressure stream of urine that coats the female from head to foot. American porcupines usually only have one baby born each year and their quills harden about an hour after birth. Porcupines have natural antibiotics in their skin and are the only mammals native to North America to have such protection. Although porcupines do not hibernate during the winter, they remain in their dens during especially cold or inclement weather. – Source. When a porcupine's quills stand up, they … Both are covered with a total of … Some porcupines love wood and eat a lot of bark and stems. Porcupines can adapt to most habitats including dense wet forests and the most barren of deserts. Non-Projectile– Despite the common myth, porcupines cannot shoot their q… All Rights Reserved. Their small head and ears, short legs and stubby tail are characteristic for these babies. Kilimanjaro, as high up as 11,480 feet. Their prehensile tails make the task of living in the trees easier. They have even been found as high as 11,480ft, on Kilimanjaro. Porcupines are members of the rodent family that are covered in sharp, defensive spines. All species are equipped with defensive spines, which protect them from predators. The Porcupine looks most like a prickly beaver! Most porcupines are about 25–36 in (63–91 cm) long, with an 8–10 in (20–25 cm) long tail. 2. The Crested Porcupine have been known to kill lions, leopards, hyenas, and even humans because of their painful quills. Some New World species are arboreal, which means that they live in the trees. They are smaller than the Old World porcupines and have shorter spines. Quills are not thrown or shot, as popularly conceived. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. These large rodents are herbivores. 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