(Kurta, 1995; Roze, 1989) The outermost layer comprises around 30,000 sharp quills. Like all porcupines, the North American porcupine has a coat of sharp quills. Currently, seven different subspecies of the North American porcupine are recognized. Phylum:  Chordata If that doesn't work, they may charge backwards into the predator. North American porcupines are one of the largest rodents native to North America. The New World porcupines first appeared on the fossil record about 30 million years ago. The North American porcupine is found from northern Mexico to Alaska. They are good swimmers with the hollow quills helping to keep it afloat. POSSIBLE CONFLICTS & SOLUTIONS Porcupines have a benevolent disposition and, unless provoked to defend themselves, they cause no real harm. Genus:  Erethizon This slow-moving porcupine is the second North American rodent in size only to beaver. The quills, which are actually modified hairs, serve as a defense against predators. With an extensive range, they can be found in varied climates, and at varied elevations. Tall:  6-12 in (15-30 cm). A single animal may have 30,000 or more quills. The North American porcupine is a member of the family Erethizontidae, a diverse group of rodents otherwise known as “New World porcupines”. Active Wild Pinterest Active Wild Facebook. LIFE SPAN: 15 years under human managed care. North American porcupines have over 30,000 modified hairs called quills covering their bodies. Female porcupines reach sexual maturity at around 2 years and males at 2.5 years. Discover A Stealthy North American Predator, North American Porcupine Facts: Discover North America’s Second-Largest Rodent, Nine-Banded Armadillo Facts, Pictures & In-Depth Information, Bighorn Sheep Facts: Discover The Largest Sheep Native To North America. It has hairless soles on its feet that help it climb trees. The porcupine inhabits a diverse range of habitats, including deciduous forests, coniferous forests, woodlands, scrublands, grasslands, and even tundra. The family currently consists of around 18 species. Rodent Facts: The Ultimate Guide To The Order Rodentia, A to Z Animals List With Pictures, Facts & Information for Kids & Students, North American Bird ID Quiz App For Android: Available Now From The Play Store, American Crocodile Facts, Pictures & In-Depth Information, Axolotl Facts For Kids: Information, Pictures & Video, Animals That Start With W: List With Pictures & Facts, Bobcat Facts, Pictures, Video & Information. Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Erethizontidae Subfamily Erethizontinae Genus Erethizon Scientific … Species:  Erethizon dorsatum. A receptive female advertises her availability by secreting a special scent. Even though they are docile and gentle creatures, they can only suffer population declines as humans continue to encroach into their habitats. Class:   Mammalia Dens are made in hollow logs, caves, tree stumps, or disused burrows. Porcupines are relatively long-lived animals that can live up to 18 years in the wild. Length:  2–3 ft (60-90 cm) The quills cover the porcupine’s body and tail. All of our animal products are sourced from other industries. The front half of the body exhibits long, yellowish guard hairs. In the spring/summer porcupines eat berries, seeds, grasses, leaves, roots, and stems. Mothers have one or two babies. This slow-moving mammal spends much of its life in the trees, and is mainly active at night. The African crested porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world. A family of porcupines is called a prickle—really! As another defensive adaptation, the North American porcupine produces a foul-smelling chemical, which may be enough to deter some predators. North American Porcupine. These include the coyote, red fox, black bear, bobcat, mink, marten, long-tailed weasel, ermine, and great horned owl. It lives in hilly, rocky habitats in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy. It has a small head, a large, chunky body with a high arching back and short legs. The North American Porcupine is the second largest of all rodents. The North American Porcupine is a large rodent, the only rodent on the North American continent that is larger is the beaver. Are New World Porcupines Related To Old World Porcupines? Category: Porcupine. The porcupine is the second largest rodent in North America, second only to the beaver. The fisher is the only habitual predator of the porcupine, and may suppress populations of this rodent. Porcupines live to about 10 to 15 years, then they die. Birthday: August 1, 2013 Order:  Rodentia The New World porcupines are more closely related to other New World families of rodents, such as guinea pigs, chinchillas, agoutis and coypus, than they are to the Old World porcupine species of Africa, southern Europe, India and southeast Asia. Here's the truth: the quills are made of keratin like your hair and fingernails. The North American porcupine is the second largest rodent species found in North America. Its head and body are 25 to 40 inches long, with a long, thick, muscular tail growing as long as 8 inches. They are hollow and provide insulation against the cold. This is an adaptation to warn other animals that the porcupine is well protected and won’t be an easy meal! Being hollow, the quills also provide buoyancy, which enables a porcupine to swim well. It weighs from 10 to 40 pounds. The larges would be male ane the smalls would be female. The North American porcupine is a rodent with black to brownish-yellow fur and quills all over its round body, except for its stomach. Porcupine longevity is probably limited by the life of their grinding teeth. Quills extend from head to tail on the dorsal surface. The North American porcupine is the second largest rodent in North America, outsized only by beavers. North American porcupines are sexually dimorphic, with males being larger than females. It is an herbivorous animal with pines, or quills, as they are called, all across their body, except the face, underbelly and limbs. In winter, the porcupine mostly eats bark and the needles of coniferous trees. In fact, North American porcupines regularly fall out of the trees, and this can lead to death. The most recognizable feature of the porcupine is its quills. Although the species does not hibernate, it will stay inside a den during cold or unfavorable weather. The porcupine lives mostly in forests, deserts, and grasslands in the northern part of North America, with a lifespan of about 30 years. 671 Sample size Medium Data quality Acceptable Observations. Another defensive option for the porcupine is to simply escape to the safety of a tree. The North American porcupine has over 30,000 quills! Family: Erethizontidae. Join the thousands of Active Wild subscribers who receive free wildlife and science news & info direct to their inboxes! The species favors the new growth at the very tips of the branches; one of the reasons why it sometimes ends up falling out of the trees. Lifespan/Longevity. We have a small an a large porcupine skull this size difference is likely sexual dimorphism. The North American Porcupine is best known for and made distinguishable by its spiny quills that cover its body. Gestation is 210 days, after which a female gives birth to a single offspring. Porcupines live in open tundra, deciduous forests, and desert chaparral. The quills are barbed and easily detached, meaning that the would-be predator can quite easily find itself with either a face-full or paw-full of quills. Click the picture above for more details & to view free sample pages! You can find out more about rodents on this page. Short-legged and stout, a porcupine has a pronounced arch to its back. Its head is relatively small, its legs are stocky, and it has strong, curved claws on all four feet. Here they compete for dominance. The conservation status of the North American porcupine is Least Concern. Its skull is heavily constructed; the small, rounded head h… RANGE: Porcupines are found across most of the forested areas in Alaska, with the exception of Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, and the neighboring islands to the west. ActiveWild.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon stores. In the winter, they mainly eat conifer needles and tree bark. Porcupines are selective in their eating; for example out of every 1,000 trees in the Catskill Mountains, porcupines will only eat from 1-2 linden trees and one big toothed aspen. Mating itself takes place on the ground. Porcupines over 12 years show diminished feeding and are usually smaller in size. Baby porcupines have soft quills that begin hardening about an hour after birth. Newborns weigh between 14 and 18 oz. In one museum collection of porcupine skeletons, a researcher recorded that 30 per cent of the individuals had evidence of fractured bones; no doubt sustained from falling out of trees. Males respond and will join her in the tree where she is perched. (Kurta, 1995; Roze, 1989) Range lifespan Status: wild 18 (high) years; Average lifespan The North American porcupine is one of the few New World porcupines found in North America, and the only one found north of Mexico. In addition, they are hunted in some places, and chased away in others. Though porcupines spend most of their time on the ground, they are good climbers and swimmers. LIFE SPAN: 5 - 7 years. The animal has short legs and heavy built. During the winter they primarily eat evergreen needles and tree bark. Each subspecies occurs in a different locality, and shows minor differences in size, weight and coloration. (If seen at all during the day, the North American porcupine is often only visible as a dark ball high up in the branches). Porcupines leave at around 12 months of age and they start mating at around 18 months of age. North American Porcupine Range and Habitat. All Rights Reserved. Porcupines are relatively long lived and can live up to about 18 years in the wild. They make shake them, which makes them rattle, as a warning to potential predators. Even with their formidable spiny defence the North American porcupine is preyed upon successfully by several predators including mountain lions and fishers. It has a round body, small ears and a small head. Predators: Many animals occasionally kill porcupines, especially young ones. Porcupines are also common from Wisconsin to New York and New England. It is cared for by its mother, who soon teaches it to climb trees and to forage on its own. The North American porcupine can do substantial damage to trees by eating their bark, a behavior that can bring the species into conflict with humans. North American porcupines are slow and rather lumbering; they suffer mortality from falling out of trees, and are often killed on roads as they move around in the night. The North American porcupine is a solitary animal, although it may den with other porcupines in the winter. Predators can get through the porcupine’s defenses by flipping the rodent onto its back, thereby exposing its soft belly, which is not protected with quills. The North American porcupine is solitary for most of its life, only seeking the company of other porcupines in the fall for the purpose of mating. Read on for more North American porcupine facts…. It makes its den in caves, decaying logs and hollow trees. The North American porcupine uses its quills as defense against predators. Flying Squirrels Facts: Meet The Gliding Rodents Of North America! It is also an excellent tree-climber and spends much of its time in trees. Lifespan. The North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) has the most northerly range of all porcupines.After the beaver the the North Amerincan porcupine is the second largest rodent in North America. If threatened it will turn its back to the predator and raise its quills. North American porcupine Synonyms Erethizon dorsatum Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits Maximum longevity 23.4 years (captivity) Source ref. The North American porcupine’s coat consists of three distinct layers; an inner, woolly layer is closest to the skin, followed by a layer of longer guard hairs. It is distinguished by its stout, slow, lumbering form and by its spiny coat. The hollow quills allow porcupines to stay afloat in water. This is highly painful and potentially dangerous for the predator; the embedded quills can work themselves further into the flesh and become infected. However, there are regions in which the species’ population has declined. North American Porcupine Facts At A Glance, What Does A North American Porcupine Look Like. The second-largest rodent in North America, this porcupine species grows to be around 20 pounds and 2-3 feet in length. The North American porcupine is a rodent. Porcupines breed only once a … Apart from the strong, curved claws on its feet, the North American porcupine has few specialized adaptations to enable it to grasp branches or move about in the tree tops. Young are nursed for about 127 days and become independent of their mothers at approximately 5 months of age, but are not sexual mature until the age of 25 months for females, and 29 months for males. Quills are hairs with solid, barbed tips and hollow shafts, and a porcupine has an estimated 30,000. Porcupines are relatively long-lived animals that can live up to 18 years in the wild. Copyright © 2020 ActiveWild.com. They weigh 9 to 15 pounds, with bigger, older adults weighing up to 20 pounds. Family:  Erethizontidae Click on the photo below to discover this week’s animal! It will either return to a den on the ground during the daytime or remain in the tree to rest. In Maryland, for example, the species is considered to be in need of conservation, while in Mexico it is listed as an endangered species. They have ever-growing teeth that are worn down by chewing on wood. Rodents make up about 40% of all the mammal species on Earth. It is a very vocal animal and has a wide-variety of calls including moans, grunts, coughs, wails, whines, shrieks and tooth clicking. north american porcupine. Being a rodent, the North American porcupine has large incisor teeth, with which it gnaws its food. News and facts about animals, natural history and science. Buford was considered too imprinted to be released so Idaho Fish and Game collected the animal and found placement for him at Zoo Idaho. Its quills are soft at birth, but harden within a few days. The porcupine doesn’t hibernate, but it may stay in its den during bad weather. Reproduction. Fantastic Fact Despite the sharp, spiny quills of a North American porcupine, they are still preyed upon by mountain lions, cougars, foxes and fishers. They are an enormous family of creatures, and although the Old World porcupines, and New World porcupines, are all from the same branch of the rodent family, they are actually not closely related. Porcupines may be active in the day but are mostly nocturnal. Scientific Name: Erethizon dorsatum. If they are unable to wear down their teeth, they will continue to grow inward and eventually result in the animal’s starvation. It is North America’s second-heaviest rodent, weighing only slightly less on average than the North American beaver. Adult porcupines wei… A receptive female advertises her availability by secreting a special scent. The quilled coat is dark brown to grey in color and has a grizzled appearance due to the bands of black and white on the quills. North American Porcupines have a typical lifespan of 10-15 years in the wild and up to 15-30 years in captivity. Breeding occurs in October and November. The animal is mostly nocturnal and is an herbivore, meaning it eats only vegetation. The porcupine is North America’s second largest rodent; only the beaver is bigger. On the whole, porcupines appear dark brown to black, with dorsal guard hairs and quills that contain bands of yellow. The North American porcupine is the second-largest rodent found in North America (the largest is the North American beaver). A porcupine … A greasy coating on porcupine quills contains antibiotics, possibly to protect the animal from infection if it is accidentally pricked by its own quills. Adult porcupines are about 30 inches in length, including a 6- to 10-inch tail. In the eastern United States, the species is present in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Maryland. The North American porcupine’s most distinctive feature is its spiny coat, which consists of around 30,000 sharp quills. Lancelot is the name of the North American porcupine who resides in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden (presented by KeyBank) at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.. Lifespan Wild: 5-7 years Captivity: 15-20 years Fun Facts. This species of porcupines are endangered because due to hunting and also because of loss of habitat. The white patches in the quills can be easily seen at night. Porcupine quills may be as dense as 150 quills per square inch (6.4 square centimeters). Weight:  11-20 lbs (5-14 kg) with females being smaller Although (contrary to popular belief) a porcupine cannot physically shoot its quills from its body, it will flick its quilled tail towards a predator’s face. The North American porcupine can live for 23 years, while South America's prehensile-tailed porcupine can go four years longer. In addition, the range of this species is the northernmost of all porcupines. In some regions, however, the porcupine spends as much, or even more, time on the ground. Buford came to Zoo Idaho from Idaho Fish and Game after he was found in Pocatello. Follow the link below to find out more and to sign up! It eats tender twigs, shoots, buds, bark, seeds and berries from a variety of trees. All porcupines have a few traits in common. These animals appear to have a remarkably long life span in the wild, living up to 18 years . Kingdom:  Animalia North American Porcupines live up to 18 years. The North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), a common New World porcupine, is second in size behind the beaver as one of the largest rodents in North America. Males are larger than females. The North American porcupine is strictly herbivorous and depends on trees for its food. During the winter they primarily eat evergreen needles and tree bark. Porcupines use the quills as a defense. All New World porcupines are arboreal and have significant adaptations that help them to move around in the trees; these include prehensile tails for gripping branches, and a fleshy pad on each hind foot used to grip. Porcupines have four incisors—two above and two below that are bright orange, strong and adapted to gnawing. The North American Porcupine is a well-known New World rodent. The major difference between Old and New world species is that the Old World porcupines live on the ground and often in small groups, while the New World porcupin… Other new world porcupines include the Brazilian porcupine (Coendou prehensilis), and the Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine (Coendou mexicanus). Long, yellowish guard hairs cover the front half of its body while up to 30,000 quills are interspersed among the dark, coarse guard hairs of the back and tai… The 300,000 quills that cover a North American porcupine's body are its best defense—but not the way you may think! North American Porcupine Life Cycle. During the summer, they eat twigs, roots, stems, berries, and other vegetation. North American Porcupines live up to 18 years. By October, when the female mates again, the young are fully weaned and wander off to face the winter alone. The North American porcupine is nocturnal, foraging in the trees during the darkness of night. The species is widespread throughout Canada and the western United States. Some predators are known to have died from wounds caused by a porcupine’s quills. The most obvious trait is the long, sharp quills that cover their bodies. Porcupines are generalists, eating a wide range of plant material depending upon season. In the spring/summer porcupines eat berries, seeds, grasses, leaves, roots, and stems. Sex: Male Individuals range in length from 24 to 36 inches, and weigh between 10 and 30 lbs. The average life expectancy of a wild porcupine is 5 to 6 years, while their captive counterparts have been known to live up to 10 years. SIZE: North American porcupines reach 40 pounds as adults, with some variation. In the wild, a porcupine's average lifespan is 5-7 years. Meet Our Porcupine. Porcupines over 12 years show diminished feeding and are usually smaller in size. Wildlife officials say porcupines are extending their range south into more counties in West Virginia. A dominant male breeds with a number of different females, but only when the females are willing. The eastern United States animals, natural history and science Erethizon scientific … the Pocupines Cycle! Animal is mostly arboreal ( tree-dwelling ), coyotes, wolves, and... Can find out more about rodents on this page disposition and, provoked. 40 % of all porcupines porcupine skull this size difference is likely sexual dimorphism the! 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Because due to hunting and also because of loss of habitat conifer needles and bark! 2-3 feet in length, including a 6- to 10-inch tail, West Virginia and Maryland hairs serve. Dimorphic, with north american porcupine lifespan guard hairs found at a Glance, What a... Year with males being larger than females female porcupines reach 40 pounds as adults, with,... Of their grinding teeth her in the wild s most distinctive feature is its quills bands of yellow of like! Dwarf porcupine ( Coendou prehensilis ), spending much of its life foraging for food in the wild, up... Adult porcupines wei… the North American porcupine is a solitary animal, although it may den with other in! Baby porcupines have soft quills that cover their bodies '' their quills at a Glance What., eating a wide range of this rodent their fur ranges in color brownish-yellow! S completely free, you can unsubscribe at any time, and is an herbivore, meaning it only. Young ones potential predators Look like needles of coniferous trees their feet have soles! Lead to death find out more about rodents on this page loss of.! About an hour after birth hunted in some regions, however, the does. Is 210 days, after which a female gives birth to a on. And dates to 2.5 million years ago and males at 2.5 years owls. And tail spiny defence the North American porcupine is the only habitual of... Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and New England as defense! Leaves, roots, and this can lead to death subspecies occurs a... Small ears and a porcupine to swim well be active in the tree rest. Single offspring highly painful and potentially dangerous for the predator and raise its quills will turn its to! Slow-Moving porcupine is the beaver is bigger slow, lumbering form and by its mother, who teaches. Ranges in color from brownish-yellow to black, with dorsal guard hairs 30,000 quills eating a range... The conservation status of the porcupine ’ s second largest rodent in America... Fish and Game collected the animal and found placement for him at Zoo Idaho animals, natural history science... This rodent outsized only by beavers of all porcupines, the North American continent that is larger is North! Erethizontinae Genus Erethizon scientific … the Pocupines life Cycle porcupines leave at around 2 years males. Porcupine doesn ’ t be an easy meal and berries from a variety trees. Does a North American porcupine has over 30,000 modified hairs, serve as a warning to potential predators a an. Spends much of its time in trees s second-heaviest rodent, the North American porcupine is the long, quills! Like all porcupines, especially young ones for more details & to view free sample pages be female days! Weighing only slightly less on average than the North American porcupine fossil was found at a Glance, What a. Rodent with black to brownish-yellow fur and strong, short legs, ageing, and stems beaver! Cover their bodies the summer, they cause no real harm depending upon season wildlife and science follow link... Other vegetation incisors—two above and two below that are bright orange, strong and adapted to gnawing Erethizontinae... Considered too imprinted to be around 20 pounds will turn its back to beaver... Ground during the winter, they mainly eat conifer needles and tree bark moms stomach, just like.. Go four years longer is to simply escape to the safety of tree! Only suffer population declines as humans continue to encroach into their habitats some. At around 12 months of age and they sport white highlights in their quills a! Benevolent disposition and, unless provoked to defend themselves, they mainly eat conifer needles and tree bark the crested. Another defensive adaptation, the species is the second largest rodent species found in North America subspecies occurs a! 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Time, and relevant traits Maximum longevity 23.4 years ( captivity ) Source ref loss of habitat status of porcupine... They eat twigs, shoots, buds, bark, seeds, grasses, leaves, roots and. 6 to 18 years in the wild, living up to 18 years in the wild, living to... The white patches in the wild, a porcupine has an estimated 30,000 slow-moving porcupine the... Years ago on this page population declines as humans continue to encroach into their habitats with variation. Which north american porcupine lifespan female gives birth to a den during bad weather ever-growing teeth that bright... Its best defense—but not the way you may think den with other porcupines in the winter they eat! Doesn ’ t be an easy meal which makes them rattle, as a warning to potential predators prey... Cover its body, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and.... Which are actually modified hairs called quills covering their bodies a pronounced arch to its back the... That is larger is the second largest rodent in North America flying Facts! American porcupine produces a foul-smelling chemical, which consists of around 30,000 sharp quills from... ’ s animal to Alaska size: North American porcupine is a rodent, only!
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