Porcupines have natural antibiotics in their skin and are the only mammals native to North America to have such protection. Like most forest dwellers, porcupines are nocturnal. The cape porcupine is known to be the world largest porcupine and it is known to be the largest rodent in Africa. Posted by Editorial Team | Interests, Safari, Wildlife | 0. Fun facts. The porcupine has quite an … Your email address will not be published. The name “porcupettes” is as cute as the baby porcupines look. They will also eat bugs once in a great while. Do you know a lot of interesting facts about porcupines? Here are some of the interesting facts about the cape porcupine. All quills are hairs coated in multiple layers of stiff keratin. 1-5 Interesting Facts About Porcupine. If you are in the condition when you feel slightly nauseas or tiring without reason … The impact may shake nu… They prefer tropical and temperate climates but will thrive in the appropriate conditions no matter where they are in the world – particularly parts of Asia, Southern Europe, Africa and North and South America. Lost quills are replaced with new quills. Porcupines have poor vision but have an acute sense of smell. It doesn't "shoot" the quills as many believe. In fact, “successor” quills start emerging only a few days after the earlier ones come out. But what’s the difference between New World and Old World porcupines? The Porcupine looks most like a prickly beaver! They display their weaponry for all to see. Porcupines are 2 to 3 feet long in their head and body. They are solitary during much of their lives. New World porcupines (family Erethizontidae) The North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is the largest species in the family, usually weighing less than 7 kg (15.4 pounds) though males occasionally grow significantly larger.Its body is up to 80 cm (31 inches) long, with a tail up to 30 cm. Some porcupines love wood and eat a lot of bark and stems. 4. At first glance, all porcupine species look alike. Porcupine rays reach a maximum width of 3.8 feet (1.2 m). For example, the Cape porcupine has a long small intestine and large caecum (which connects the two intestines). Justin and Rudy wait for the porcupine presentation to begin at Goodwin Conservation Center. Preserve Québec's wildlife. Weighing 5–16 kg (12–35 lb), they are rounded, large, and slow, and use aposematic strategy of defence. Fun Facts about Porcupines. If for some reason they lose some of their needles, they will soon grow new ones. There are more than two dozen porcupine species, and all boast a coat of needle-like quills to give predators a sharp reminder that this animal is no easy meal. Porcupines are covered in about 30,000 quills. It’s very unlikely that you’ll come across a porcupine during the day. Interestingly enough, reports have indicated porcupines gnawing on carrion and bones. Fun Facts About Porcupines. Porcupinefish can also inflate their bodies with water or air, but these fishes are also armed with well-developed spines from head to tail. Needless to say, porcupines are fascinating creatures. It is no secret that these prickly creatures are unique! With small, short legs, the skunk is ve… They live in wooded areas and can climb trees, where some species spend their entire lives. Facts About Porcupine Puffer Fish. Old World crested porcupines have back quills that can stand up into a crest (like a Mohawk hairdo). They have curved claws and powerful curved feet to grasp and climb. These porcupines, like others, have a gland situated near the base of the tail which secretes hormones that they use to mark their territory. Another large porcupine is the Cape porcupine which can measure up to an impressive 81 centimeters from their head to the base of their inconspicuous tail. Each quill is marked with black and white bands. Enter your email for your weekly dose of ‘wild Africa’ directly to your inbox. Bones also give them important minerals, like salt and calcium, to keep them healthy. Old World porcupines tend to live best on the rocky landscapes, while New World porcupines are frequently found in trees. Porcupine babies, called porcupettes, are not born with sharp or barbed quills. All About Quills– Every species has different patterns and lengths when it comes to their quills. February 16th, 2015. Image credit: en.wikipedia.org. For example, many female monkeys and chimpanzees advertise their sexual readiness. A family of porcupines is called a prickle — really! Its proportions are not as attractive as its animal itself. Your email address will not be published. © 2020 Africa Freak | All Rights Reserved, What sound does a hippo make? … Its proportions are not as attractive as its animal itself. These quills... Porcupines aren’t able to shoot them at predators as once thought, but the quills do detach easily when touched. 2. Their long claws and excellent balance allow them to grip and scale even the tallest of trees. A Porcupine’s Scientific Name is Erethizon Dorsatum and Hystricidae. This can lead to them climbing trees. With cape porcupine inclusive all porcupines have lined quills which is significant for their hairs. 6 Interesting Baby Porcupine Facts Porcupine babies are called Porcupette Baby porcupines are called Porcupette irrespective of their gender or species. Each quill is hollow – it is yellowish in colour, with a black tip and is covered in tiny barbs. During the wintertime, porcupines eat a lot of tree bark, as well. Indeed a particularly strong odor emanates from the Porcupine; an odor that falls somewhere between urine and sweat. Although this deviates from their herbivorous diet, it doesn’t change their dietary classification. Quills set in bunches are a feature of the Old World porcupines, whereas single scattered quills, underfur, and hair are characteristic of the New World porcupines. Contribute to the cause. The quills are embedded in the skin and muscle of the animal. We're all about safari and celebrating wild Africa. The Old World porcupines live in southern Europe, Asia, and most of Africa. Quills are not thrown or shot, as popularly conceived. Porcupines are not territorial animals, however, their home range can be as large as 200 acres. A porcupine can fell a whole tree if it removes too much bark. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The North African crested porcupine is the largest. The lifespan of wild Indian crested porcupines is unknown, but the oldest known captive individual was a female that lived to be 27.1 years old. At the base of the tail, the porcupine has blunt, hollow quills that rattle when shaken, serving as a warning to potential predators. Add Review. porcupine traditionally believed to defend itself by discharging its quills at its enemy. And there are many African folklore stories about how the porcupine got their quills in the first place. If for some reason they lose some of their needles, they will soon grow new ones. By Kitty LeShay. April 1st, 2015, by Ecomuseum Zoo. A porcupine’s ideal habitat ranges from forests and deserts to rocky outcrops and hillsides. Both are covered with a total of 30,000 or more hollow quills. This is mostly due to the nocturnal nature of porcupines. This means that the slightest unwanted touch from a predator can fix dozens of painful quills into the porcupine’s enemy. Interesting facts about African bush elephants, Interesting facts about American flamingos. Although porcupines do not hibernate during the winter, they remain in their dens during especially cold or inclement weather. Porcupines have a weakness for gourds, such as watermelons, melons, zucchini and pumpkins. As mentioned, porcupines don’t shoot their quills, but they do detach fairly easily. 5 fun facts about the American Porcupine. Size: Head and body: 25 to 36 inches; tail: 8 to 10 inches. Although porcupines have their quills to protect themselves from predators, such as lions and hyenas, their first choice is to flee. But they are quite different. Porcupine is a mammal that belongs to a detachment of rodents. The porcupine is another one of these species. The longest quills are found on their back and behind, while the shortest ones are on their face. Their tails can be another 8 to 10 inches long. Smaller, rigid quills that are 20 centimeters (8 inches) long are densely packed over the Old World porcupine’s rump and back. They have curved claws and powerful curved feet to grasp and climb. 3. 3. To some, porcupines may appear to be cute and cuddly. These predators kill a porcupine by biting its unprotected face or by flipping it over to expose the vulnerable underside. Porcupines have a weakness for gourds, such as watermelons, melons, zucchini and pumpkins. They display unusual courtship behavior, like rubbing noses and dancing. So, what’s the most interesting thing you can learn about porcupines? One of the lesser known porcupine facts is that it will turn its back and make a reverse-charge, or stop in mid-chase, thereby driving their needle-sharp quills into its enemy’s flesh. Fun Facts About Porcupines. The New World porcupines live in North and South America. Yet Latin isn’t the only language misidentifying the porcupine: The French word equivalent to the English porcupine is porc espin or “spined pig”. Smell ya later: Porcupines are pungent. The porcupine has quite an interesting heritage. This quick hardening protects the baby from predators early on. 4. Why not challenge yourself to spot the notorious porcupine on your next safari adventure? They have been recorded making grunts, whines, and screeches to communicate with each other. 1. Interesting Porcupine Facts: Body of the porcupine is covered with sharp spines or quills. Attached to its semi-webbed toes, it has long straight claws that help it rip apart trees and shrubs for food and help it dig dens for shelter. The Indian crested porcupine is a large rodent, weighing 11–18 kg. The North American, or common porcupine is designed for life in the trees. A baby porcupine is called a porcupette. Porcupines are covered in about 30,000 quills. Contrary to popular myth, a porcupine’s quills will not fire at enemies but rather will loosely embed in … If you were ever looking for an unusual piece of trivia, the porcupine … Porcupines are mostly nocturnal, spending their evenings foraging for dinner. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Porcupines spend their days resting in hollow trees and logs. The striped skunk has thick, sleek black fur and a white stripe that splits into two at the shoulders and continues along each side of the back to the base of the tail. Dolphins can get high on puffer fish puffer fish characteristics habitat 10 facts about puffer fish top 10 facts about pufferfish always puffer fish. In case you haven’t picked it up yet, porcupines are fantastic tree-climbers. Let's take a look at some interesting facts about porcupines: Porcupines are a mammal that is often considered a rodent. Porcupines are a cute prickly bunch! Each quill is hollow – it is yellowish in colour, with a black tip and is covered in tiny barbs. Their body (from the nose to the base of the tail) measures between 70 and 90 cm, with the tail adding an additional 8–10 cm. While porcupines may be a popular animal to add to your safari-spotting list, you may find the challenge to be a little more difficult than spotting the likes of the African antelope. Porcupines do not shoot their quills in the way that you would imagine shooting an arrow. Instead, these spines fall out when they come in contact with something, or if they are shake… Porcupines have soft hair, but on their back, sides, and tail it is usually mixed with sharp quills. When the quills enter the skin of a predator, they work their way further into the skin at a rate of 1 mm an hour. At any given time, a porcupine has up to 30,000 quills covering its body. Baby porcupines are called Porcupette irrespective of their gender or species. The North American porcupine can live for 23 years, while South America's prehensile-tailed porcupine can go four years longer. Their tails can be another 8 … They can also tip the scale at a heavy weight of 30 kilograms for particularly large specimens. July 29th, 2014. The needles are not too firmly fixed in the body – this is also part of the protective mechanism. Porcupines! Their teeth — particularly the sharp, large front choppers — are also made for trees. They can weigh from 4.5 to 13 kg (10 to 28 pounds). An early variant, porpentine, is now likely to be known from its use by Shakespeare, as in Hamlet. Here are some fun facts about the fascinating creatures, and a few answers to some earnest questions.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'africafreak_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_8',146,'0','0'])); Arguably the most identifiable characteristic of the porcupine is their quills. Terrific! Editorial Team at Africa Freak is a group of expert Africa writers and influencers. Fun Facts The pads of their feet have a nubby, rough texture for traction, and their toes can grip around thin branches. Its Latin name means “quill pig”, which is the regional American name of the porcupine. They will also gnaw at salt placed down to thaw ice on roads which can lead to death or injury through being knocked by motor vehicles. When all the quills are erect, it makes the animal look very large and dangerous! Porcupines are also known to eat bugs and small lizards every now and then. Porcupines are more likely to flee predators, but if cornered, it will er… Our educational program. They will also gnaw at salt placed down to thaw ice on roads which can lead to death or injury through being knocked by motor vehicles. But they are quite different. However, anyone who has stumbled upon a porcupine quill will know just how prickly these creatures are in reality. The adapted biological make-up of the porcupine helps with the ingestion of this diet. In fact, the porcupine regularly holds on with just it's back toes,stretching to reach young buds at the tips of delicate tree limbs. Here is information on its diet, habitat, along with some fascinating facts. This allows for an effective fermentation to break down the tough food materials. It has no value as a hunted or trapped species, but it is an important member of the forest community. Our conservation initiatives. Fun Facts About Porcupine Rays. My Africa overlanding trip highlights: days 13-25, Nerves of steel (or how to keep your composure in the African bush). A porcupine has approximately 30,000 quills on its body. The porcupine was the personal badge of Louis XII, king of France (1462–1515). It is this lust for tender greenery that finds porcupines tumbling from the tree tops on a surprisingly regular basis. If you do, it could mean that they are sick or there’s a danger in their den. There are 29 different species of porcupine found in their native habitats around the world. These can stab any potential threat. Some quills can be up to 51 centimeters (20 inches) long. It is this lust for tender greenery that finds porcupines tumbling from the tree tops on a surprisingly regular basis. Porcupines are not territorial animals, however, their home range can be as large as 200 acres. 2. Fun Facts About Porcupine Rays. There may be several porcupines in a square mile of forest habitat. Weighing 5–16 kg (12–35 lb), they are rounded, large, and slow, and use aposematic strategy of defense. The baby will suckle from its mother for 4-5 months. ... Pufferfish And Some Interesting Facts About Toxin Scuba. This diet hollow quills except for the porcupine … 1-5 interesting facts about Toxin Scuba 5 facts... Rays reach a maximum width of 3.8 feet ( 1 to 30 cm quill is hollow – it understandable... 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Feature he is best known for having tree tops on a surprisingly regular.. Soft and bendable, gradually hardening in the body – this is also of! Ever looking for an effective fermentation to break down the tough food materials but is! Africa Freak is a mammal that belongs to a detachment of rodents group consists of large, rounded … porcupine! The third largest rodents in Africa, Florida, Australia, and to.