|
Erethizontidae
|
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 North
American Porcupine |
 Porc-épic
d'Amérique du nord |
 Puerco
espín |
| Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend them from predators. The porcupines include the fourth largest rodent, after the capybara, mara, and beaver, and are not to be confused with hedgehogs which are Erinaceomorphs. Most porcupines are about 25-36 inches long, with a 8-10 inch long tail. Weighing between 12-35 pounds, they are rounded, large and slow. Porcupines come in various shades of brown, grey, and the unusual white. The animal's quills or spines take on various forms, depending on the species, but all are modified hairs coated with thick plates of keratin, and they are embedded in the skin musculature. Virtually all species of porcupine have approximately 30,000 quills. |
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