Porcupine
Hystrix sp.
Where is it found?
|
|
Grasslands and forests.
Diet and foraging method
|
|
Key adaptations
Porcupines have thickened hairs that form sharp quills covering their backs, this provides protection from predators. Some spines on the tail are hollow and so can make a rattling noise when shaken to further deter predators.
Social organisation and mating system
Porcupines form small clans of adult pairs and up to four offspring. They all share the same burrow.
|
|
Form monogamous breeding pairs.
Did you know that...?
Porcupines chew on bones to help to keep their teeth sharp. Bones also provide a good source of calcium, phosphorus and other essential minerals.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Awakened from Slumber (7468686864)" by USFWS Mountain-Prairie - Awakened from SlumberUploaded by Magnus Manske. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Awakened_from_Slumber_(7468686864).jpg#/media/File:Awakened_from_Slumber_(7468686864).jpg
"Porc-épic Pairi Daiza" by Eliedion - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Porc-%C3%A9pic_Pairi_Daiza.JPG#/media/File:Porc-%C3%A9pic_Pairi_Daiza.JPG
"Cnorad Gesner - Porcupine 33" by Conrad Gesner. Original upload by en:User:Belgrade18 for EN-Wikipedia, upload for Wikimedia Commons by Roland zh on 7. Dezember 2008 - Image:Porcupine 33.jpg originally on EN-Wikipedia / http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/historicalanatomies/Images/1200_pixels/porcupine_33.jpg. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cnorad_Gesner_-_Porcupine_33.jpg#/media/File:Cnorad_Gesner_-_Porcupine_33.jpg
"Awakened from Slumber (7468686864)" by USFWS Mountain-Prairie - Awakened from SlumberUploaded by Magnus Manske. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Awakened_from_Slumber_(7468686864).jpg#/media/File:Awakened_from_Slumber_(7468686864).jpg
"Porc-épic Pairi Daiza" by Eliedion - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Porc-%C3%A9pic_Pairi_Daiza.JPG#/media/File:Porc-%C3%A9pic_Pairi_Daiza.JPG
"Cnorad Gesner - Porcupine 33" by Conrad Gesner. Original upload by en:User:Belgrade18 for EN-Wikipedia, upload for Wikimedia Commons by Roland zh on 7. Dezember 2008 - Image:Porcupine 33.jpg originally on EN-Wikipedia / http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/historicalanatomies/Images/1200_pixels/porcupine_33.jpg. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cnorad_Gesner_-_Porcupine_33.jpg#/media/File:Cnorad_Gesner_-_Porcupine_33.jpg
