Sharp spines called quills protect the porcupine. It is sometimes called a quill pig (though the animal is not really a pig). There are 25 species of porcupine, and they are divided into Old World species and New World species. All porcupines are rodents.

Where porcupines live

Old World porcupines live on the ground. New World species spend much of the time in trees. Porcupines sleep in caves, among piles of rocks, or in holes called burrows. Some New World porcupines sleep in hollow logs or holes in trees.

The Old World porcupines include the crested porcupines of southern Europe, Africa, and Asia. The long-tailed porcupines live in Asia. The brush-tailed porcupines are found in Africa and Asia.

The best known of the New World species is the North American porcupine. Other New World species include the tree porcupine of Central and South America, the short-tailed porcupine of Colombia, and the thin-tailed porcupine of Brazil. Most live in forests.

Form

The porcupine is a stout, short-legged animal. Its body is covered with dark, coarse hairs and stiff quills, which are modified hairs. The quills act as armor. The North American porcupine may have more than 30,000 quills. The quills are about 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) long.

The general color of porcupines ranges from grayish brown through dark brown to blackish. The quills are generally white. They are often tipped with black or marked with bands of yellow, orange, or black.

The largest of the porcupines is the African crested porcupine. It is about 31 inches (80 centimeters) long and weighs about 60 pounds (27 kilograms). The North American porcupine is about29 inches (75 centimeters) long.

Behavior

The common belief that the porcupine can shoot its quills is untrue. When threatened, the porcupine grunts and stamps its hind feet in warning. It also sticks up its quills and rattles them. The quills detach easily and can stick in the enemy's skin. They can cause painful wounds and even death if they pierce vital organs or if the wounds get infected. The crested porcupines charge backward and try to drive their quills into the enemy.

Porcupines are often slow-moving. They are active generally at night. New World porcupines are good climbers. Porcupines tend to live in small groups consisting of a couple and their young.

Porcupines are basically plant eaters. The North American porcupine prefers the tender layer of tissue beneath the bark of trees. Sometimes the porcupine completely cuts away the bark in a ring. This kills the tree. It may also gnaw used axe handles, canoe paddles, and other items for the salt and oil they contain. The crested porcupine eats roots, fruit, and other vegetation. It sometimes damages crops.

Reproduction

The African crested porcupine breeds once a year. One to four young are born about 100 days later. Some other Old World porcupines bear two litters a year. The North American porcupine breeds once a year. It usually bears one or two young after a pregnancy of about 200 days. The quills of baby porcupines are soft.