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Porcupines also eat certain insects and nuts. In the winter, they mainly eat conifer needles and tree bark. Porcupines are selective in their consumption; 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. [citation needed]
The crested porcupine is for the most part herbivorous, eating roots, bulbs, and leaves, but occasionally they do consume insects, small vertebrates, and carrion. To ingest calcium and sharpen incisors, they often gnaw on bones. These animals often travel long distances looking for food.
In the winter, it may eat bark. [2] The African porcupine is not a climber; instead, it forages on the ground. [2] It is mostly nocturnal [10] but will sometimes forage for food during the day, eating bark, roots, fruits, berries, and farm crops. Porcupines have become a pest in Kenya and are eaten as a delicacy. [11]
Their diets consist mainly of bark, leaves, and conifer needles, but can also include roots, stems, berries, fruits, seeds, nuts, grasses, and flowers. Some species also eat insects and small reptiles. [2] Their teeth are similar to those of Old World porcupines, with the dental formula 1.0.1.3 1.0.1.3.
Porcupines are known for their long quills. Their name derives from French words for pig and spike, although they are not pigs, but rodents related to large South American animals like capybaras.
Indian crested porcupines have a very broad and mostly herbivorous diet. [2] They consume a variety of natural and agricultural plant material, including roots, bulbs, fruits, grains, drupe and tubers, along with insects and small vertebrates. [2] [3] [13] [14] Because they are cecal digesters, they are able to exploit low quality forage. [15]
The aversion to eating insects is deeply rooted in cultural and societal norms, particularly in the U.S. Patrice encourages us to keep an open mind, reminding us that there are many delightful ...
Grist reports that roughly 30 percent of the world's population considers insects a delicacy or dietary staple.