The Porcupine

by Colin

Description

Size

The porcupine is almost the biggest rodent. The male porcupine weighs 11-13 pounds or some are 5-6 kilograms. Porcupines are 1 metre or 3 feet in length but females are a little smaller than the male.

Color

The color of a porcupine's quills are a yellowish white and the fur is a brownish black.

Body Covering

The porcupine has over 30,000 quills. The porcupine's quills are made of hardened hairs. On the porcupine are three different layers of hairs. The inner layer is to keep it warm. The guard hairs and outer layer are to keep out rain and snow. Also the tips are made of sharp pointy barbs.

Distinguishing Features

On the porcupine the first thing you might notice is its long quills. The second thing is its always growing front teeth and an orange colored protective coating. The porcupine has a small head and long gnawing teeth. It has long curved claws to help it climb trees. Also it has a strong tail.

Family Life and Reproduction

Only the North and South American porcupines can climb trees. The female can only have 1 to 4 babies. When the babies are 2 months old they leave their mom. The baby's real name is a porcupette.

Interesting Facts

Once a porcupine loses one quill another one grows to take its place. It takes about 2 to 8 months for a new quill to take its place. The porcupine's long claws give it a good grip when its climbing.

Where in the World

The North American porcupine is found in North America. Its cousins are found in South America, Africa, Asia, India and Southern Europe.

Home/Habitat

The porcupine lives in trees, rock dens, hollow logs and it lives in some shrubs.

Food and Eating Habits

Porcupine's eat: bark, leaves, buds, stems, fruit, sometimes crops. It also chews on canoe paddles, signposts, picnic tables and canoes. The porcupine eats at night. It relies on its keen sense of smell. The porcupine turns its nose up to smell the air for food.

Adaptations

The porcupine climbs up into a tree, stretches out and looks like a birds nest. This helps it escape from its enemies. The porcupine can put its needles on its tail into tree bark to help when it is climbing. A North American porcupine can pierce an attacker's skin.

Bibliography

Dingwall, Laima. Natures Children Porcupines. Toronto: Grolier, 1986.

"Porcupine", The World Book Encyclopedia Chicago World Book, inc. 1993 Vol. 15.