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The word porcupine comes from the Latin porcus ' pig ' + spina ' spine, quill ', from Old Italian porcospino, ' thorn-pig '. [4] [5] A regional American name for the animal is quill-pig. [6] A baby porcupine is a porcupette. When born, a porcupette's quills are soft hair; they harden within a few days, forming the sharp quills of adults. [7]
On the other hand, being pricked by a porcupine quill is not dangerous, and the quills are not poisonous. The quill can be removed by gently but firmly pulling it out of the skin. The barbed tip sometimes breaks off, but it works its way out through the skin over time. [7]
This porcupine has a short tail which has rattle quills at the end. The rattle quills broaden at the terminal end and the broad portion is hollow with thin walls. When these quills are vibrated, they produce a hiss-like rattle. The front feet of the crested porcupine have four developed and clawed digits with a regressed thumb, the rear feet ...
By: Michelle Rosique and Gillian Pensavalle, Buzz60. Meet the resilient little porcupine who was found with barely any of his quills. He was brought to Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation staffers ...
Porcupines are known for their sharp quills which one dog appears to have encountered first hand. A 2-year-old stray is recovering after being found with more than 350 quills embedded in her face ...
The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata), a typical representative of the Old World porcupines, occurs throughout the south of Europe and North and West Africa. It is replaced in southern and central Africa by the Cape porcupine, H. africaeaustralis, and in India by the Malayan porcupine (H. brachyura) and Indian (crested) porcupine (H. indica).
Each quill is connected to a muscle at its base, allowing the porcupine to raise its quills when it feels threatened. [4] The longest quills are located on the neck and shoulder, where the quills form a "skirt" around the animal. [4] These quills can grow up to 51 cm (20 in) long, [4] with most measuring between 15 and 30 cm (5.9 and 11.8 in). [5]
The most distinguishing feature of the porcupine is its coat of quills. An adult porcupine has about 30,000 quills that cover all of its body except its underbelly, face, and feet. Quills are modified hairs formed into sharp, barbed, hollow spines. They are used primarily for defense, but also serve to insulate their bodies during winter.