We have a small an a large porcupine skull this size difference is likely sexual dimorphism. In the winter, they mainly eat conifer needles and tree bark. Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Erethizontidae Subfamily Erethizontinae Genus Erethizon Scientific … 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. With an extensive range, they can be found in varied climates, and at varied elevations. A receptive female advertises her availability by secreting a special scent. 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. Length:  2–3 ft (60-90 cm) Dens are made in hollow logs, caves, tree stumps, or disused burrows. Sex: Male During the summer, they eat twigs, roots, stems, berries, and other vegetation. Kingdom:  Animalia In fact, North American porcupines regularly fall out of the trees, and this can lead to death. Scientific Name: Erethizon dorsatum. The North American porcupine is a slow moving, stoutly-built animal. The North American porcupine is the second-largest rodent found in North America (the largest is the North American beaver). They are hollow and provide insulation against the cold. Being a rodent, the North American porcupine has large incisor teeth, with which it gnaws its food. Though porcupines spend most of their time on the ground, they are good climbers and swimmers. Family: Erethizontidae. Its head is relatively small, its legs are stocky, and it has strong, curved claws on all four feet. The North American Porcupine is best known for and made distinguishable by its spiny quills that cover its body. Most New World Porcupines are found in South America. During the winter they primarily eat evergreen needles and tree bark. North American porcupine Synonyms Erethizon dorsatum Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits Maximum longevity 23.4 years (captivity) Source ref. The quills, which are actually modified hairs, serve as a defense against predators. Even though they are docile and gentle creatures, they can only suffer population declines as humans continue to encroach into their habitats. North American Porcupines have a typical lifespan of 10-15 years in the wild and up to 15-30 years in captivity. 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. Porcupines are relatively long-lived animals that can live up to 18 years in the wild. 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. The family currently consists of around 18 species. 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. Each subspecies occurs in a different locality, and shows minor differences in size, weight and coloration. 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. It has hairless soles on its feet that help it climb trees. North American porcupines have over 30,000 modified hairs called quills covering their bodies. The North American Porcupine is a large rodent, the only rodent on the North American continent that is larger is the beaver. A family of porcupines is called a prickle—really! This species of porcupines are endangered because due to hunting and also because of loss of habitat. Baby porcupines have soft quills that begin hardening about an hour after birth. They damage trees in plantations and in people’s gardens, and often gnaw on garden sheds, wooden porches, gardening tools, and even old boots. The North American porcupine is a rodent. Mating itself takes place on the ground. Porcupines are generalists, eating a wide range of plant material depending upon season. 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. The hollow quills allow porcupines to stay afloat in water. A single animal may have 30,000 or more quills. Adult porcupines wei… Here's the truth: the quills are made of keratin like your hair and fingernails. The porcupine lives mostly in forests, deserts, and grasslands in the northern part of North America, with a lifespan of about 30 years. In addition, predatory birds such as eagles and owls prey on porcupines. By October, when the female mates again, the young are fully weaned and wander off to face the winter alone. Individuals range in length from 24 to 36 inches, and weigh between 10 and 30 lbs. The North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is the second-largest rodent in North America, beat out only by the beaver, according to the University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology. Their fur ranges in color from brownish-yellow to black, and they sport white highlights in their quills. 671 Sample size Medium Data quality Acceptable Observations. Reproduction. It will either return to a den on the ground during the daytime or remain in the tree to rest. Short-legged and stout, a porcupine has a pronounced arch to its back. A common myth is that porcupines can "shoot" their quills at a predator; but they can't. About. 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. This slow-moving mammal spends much of its life in the trees, and is mainly active at night. Males are larger than females. The North American porcupine is the only species that lives in the U.S. and Canada, and is the largest of all porcupines. They are found throughout Canada and the western United States south to Mexico. Males respond and will join her in the tree where she is perched. North American Porcupines live up to 18 years. In the eastern United States, the species is present in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Maryland. Lifespan/Longevity. Wildlife officials say porcupines are extending their range south into more counties in West Virginia. Porcupine quills may be as dense as 150 quills per square inch (6.4 square centimeters). These include the coyote, red fox, black bear, bobcat, mink, marten, long-tailed weasel, ermine, and great horned owl. 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. It is also an excellent tree-climber and spends much of its time in trees. A porcupine … Fantastic Fact Despite the sharp, spiny quills of a North American porcupine, they are still preyed upon by mountain lions, cougars, foxes and fishers. The animal has short legs and heavy built. Porcupines live in open tundra, deciduous forests, and desert chaparral. Meet Our Porcupine. Porcupines leave at around 12 months of age and they start mating at around 18 months of age. 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. Porcupines have four incisors—two above and two below that are bright orange, strong and adapted to gnawing. North American porcupines are one of the largest rodents native to North America. All of our animal products are sourced from other industries. It has a round body, small ears and a small head. Other new world porcupines include the Brazilian porcupine (Coendou prehensilis), and the Mexican hairy dwarf porcupine (Coendou mexicanus). (If seen at all during the day, the North American porcupine is often only visible as a dark ball high up in the branches). It has black to brownish-yellow fur and strong, short legs. In winter, the porcupine mostly eats bark and the needles of coniferous trees. This is highly painful and potentially dangerous for the predator; the embedded quills can work themselves further into the flesh and become infected. Mothers have one or two babies. They have ever-growing teeth that are worn down by chewing on wood. Porcupines are also common from Wisconsin to New York and New England. Its skull is heavily constructed; the small, rounded head h… The North American porcupine is a solitary animal, although it may den with other porcupines in the winter. Porcupines have an average lifespan of 6 to 18 years. The North American porcupine is mostly arboreal (tree-dwelling), spending much of its life foraging for food in the trees. Another defensive option for the porcupine is to simply escape to the safety of a tree. The conservation status of the North American porcupine is Least Concern. 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. In addition, they are hunted in some places, and chased away in others. The larges would be male ane the smalls would be female. The fisher is the only habitual predator of the porcupine, and may suppress populations of this rodent. Quills extend from head to tail on the dorsal surface. The porcupine is North America’s second largest rodent; only the beaver is bigger. Males are larger than females. north american porcupine. 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. These animals appear to have a remarkably long life span in the wild, living up to 18 years . News and facts about animals, natural history and science. A dominant male breeds with a number of different females, but only when the females are willing. The porcupine is the second largest rodent in North America, second only to the beaver. Newborns weigh between 14 and 18 oz. The outermost layer comprises around 30,000 sharp quills. 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 uses its quills as defense against predators. If they are unable to wear down their teeth, they will continue to grow inward and eventually result in the animal’s starvation. The potential life span is 10 years. In the wild, a porcupine's average lifespan is 5-7 years. The African crested porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world. The North American porcupine is found from northern Mexico to Alaska. The quills cover the porcupine’s body and tail. 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