Porcupines are mammals belonging to the order of rodents. In the general classification, scientists separately distinguish a family of wood porcupines, otherwise called American porcupines, living in South and North America. They are similar to ordinary porcupines, but much smaller in size, as well as in size of spines.

Porcupine - description, characteristic, structure. What does a porcupine look like?

These animals are considered one of the most amazing creatures of nature. In general, they are cute and calm rodents. The appearance is so unlike the appearance of other animals that they cannot be confused with any other species.

Porcupine needles

An outstanding feature of porcupines are considered the longest needle among other mammals. The longest of them reach half a meter and have a thickness of 0.7 centimeters. Porcupine wool is different throughout the body, consists of several types of hair:

• Elongated, dense and very sharp needles that are mutated during the evolution of hair.
• Long, easily bendable setae.
• Needles are flat in shape.
• Soft fur hairs.
• The same hairs, only tougher.

Half-meter needles are located on the back of the animal. At the same time, they are not strongly fixed on the body of the beast, constantly fall out without causing him injuries. The animal may not even notice the process of falling out of needles. In the space between them are thick, but short spines, growing from fifteen to thirty cm in length. Soft hairs are already hiding under them. Dense hair covers the head, lower body and limbs. In addition to the bristles on the tail of the animal, there are thick stakes.

How does a porcupine raise its needles?

Spines of porcupines are hollow inside, some are filled with a spongy horny substance. When an animal is in danger, it begins to raise its needles. This is due to the strong muscles of the back. The needles rise and bend back. At such moments, the porcupine shakes, making a crackling sound that repels predators. A similar crack is inherent in all species of porcupines, in addition to long-tailed. The bristles of the animal are brown in color, the shade of which varies depending on the location. The needles that cover the sides, tail and back of the beast have a striped black and white color.

How much does a porcupine weigh?

Large-sized adult porcupines weigh about 27 kilograms. Moreover, the mass of individuals of the same species may vary significantly. Such an indicator depends only on the fatness of the instance.

Body structure

The average length of the body of the beast varies depending on belonging to a particular species. Small species grow in length no more than 38 centimeters, large - up to 90.

The extremities of porcupines are short, somewhat awkward. For this reason, animals are slow, moving slightly waddle. However, if the animal is in danger, it can run for a long time and quickly. On the forelimbs, 3 or 4 fingers. On the back - five, but the first finger is underdeveloped. All fingers have sharp black claws at the ends. There are no bumps on the soles of the limbs.

Most porcupines have an average tail length. It grows to 15 cm. However, in the long-tailed species, as well as in the carp-tailed porcupines, tails grow to 25 cm.

Interesting fact: porcupines tend to seek entertainment. One animalist described the behavior of one family of porcupines living in a cave - they constantly rolled down the same hill, like generations before them.

The skull of the animal is slightly elongated. It is oval, the bones of the front part are well developed. The muzzle is blunt, slightly rounded, completely covered with short hairs. Some species of porcupines are distinguished by a beautiful comb of bristles on their heads.

Interesting fact: porcupines do not like to move. Their basic needs for life are food and reproduction.

The molars of animals are extremely strong, characterized by a flat chewing surface. At the same time, the incisors are developed with enamel orange, clearly visible from the outside, like all rodents. Teeth growth is observed throughout the life of animals. It is for this reason that their complete grinding is impossible. The porcupine has a total of 20 teeth in the porcupine mouth.

Small round eyes are placed very backward, the ears are barely noticeable, they slightly resemble people's ears in their shape.

Porcupines are silent, you can hear that they make any sounds in very rare cases. However, in times of danger or discontent, rodents begin to puff and grunt. So they try to scare off the enemy.

How long does a porcupine live?

AT porcupines can live up to 10 years in the wild. Moreover, in captivity, this period increases to 20 years.

Features of character and lifestyle

They prefer to settle in the plain foothill and mountainous territories. They love forests, settle not far from freshly plowed fields. It is rare to find rodents in a desert environment. Dwellings can be made between boulders, in mountain crevices and caves. It all depends on the habitat of the animal. If the soil is soft, then they dig minks that go deep - up to four meters - underground. They are long, winding. They have several additional outputs.

In dug minks animals equip small cozy rooms, which are lined with green grass. Animals are practically not afraid of people, therefore they can settle closer to villages, plundering the crops of local residents. Wire fences do not interfere at all - the rodent will easily bite through the metal and make its way to the prey.

For food animals go at dusk. In the afternoon, they prefer to relax in cozy minks. In winter, animals do not hibernate, but become lethargic, less likely to leave the shelter. In warm periods they can be removed from home at a distance of several kilometersmining something tasty. Experienced naturalists easily identify the paths of porcupines, which they trample with their strong limbs.

The rest of the time the animals are extremely calm, a little timid. They will never be the first to bully, preferring to bypass other animals. Porcupines do not trust anyone, they can see the danger even when it is not there. At such moments, they open their needles and crack menacingly. Often animals suffer from cars, starting to scare them without running away from the roadway.

Porcupine enemies in nature

Predatory animals do not mind hunting porcupines. They do not stop even the formidable needle on the body of the beast. The main danger is represented by wolves, foxes, lynxes and other predators inhabiting the region. In some situations, porcupines are attacked by American owls.

Porcupines rarely run away from danger. They are not afraid of large animals, they threaten them in case of attack. If the threats did not affect the enemy, then the animals begin to rush at him backwards, hitting their sharp and unarmed weapons. For this reason, large cannibals have spread in Africa. Animals injured by needles are not able to get rid of spikes in the body. Also, they can no longer hunt ungulates. The only way out of this situation is to attack people who cannot defend themselves without weapons.

Parts of porcupines are found exclusively in the digestive system of large crocodiles. The main enemy of porcupines, as well as other animals, is still man. Since animals like to steal crops, dig land and destroy fences, residents of villages constantly hunt them. Also an important reason for the extermination of animals is tasty meat, similar to rabbit meat.

Porcupine shoots needles or not?

It has long been a misconception that porcupines can throw needles at opponents. However, this is not the case.The error appeared not from scratch - it is due to the fact that the sharp thorns are loosely attached to the body, so they easily fall out and are lost. Animals are unable to shoot with thorns - they have no millet anatomical devices for this. Also, the needles bend, so they can not be used as a flying projectile. Since porcupines sharply rush at opponents and leave a needle in them, a feeling may be created that they throw at a distance.

Are porcupine needles poisonous?

Another myth is that animal needles are poisonous. In fact, the wounds received from the animal heal for a long time and are very painful. However, this is because dirt can accumulate on them. Wounds become inflamed due to the banal infection of tissues.

Where does porcupine live?

The habitat of porcupines is not so small: Europe, all of America, Asia, India and the territories of Transcaucasia. They prefer to settle near the mountains. Sometimes they can be found in desert areas. Often settle near small human settlements, stealing food at night.

Porcupine housing

Since animals are nocturnal, during the day they sit in the hole, resting. It is rare to see photos of animals in nature for this very reason. They live near the mountains. The place of residence is chosen by crevices and caves. They can dig holes if the soil allows. Burrows are located at a depth of four meters, branch out underground to a length of 10 meters. Sometimes porcupines live in abandoned holes. In cozy rooms in the hole porcupines rest and breed.

What does porcupine eat?

Meals take place at night. Animals make their way to gardens or seek food in the forests. Porcupine is not afraid of people, so it steals grapes, gourds. In places where animals walk regularly, trails formed from the constant stomping of strong paws are noticeable. On such paths, zoologists can find an animal's home.

Porcupines are looking for food in pairs. The female and the male are close to each other, with the male walking slightly behind. Porcupines are herbivorous, but some individuals do not mind eating insects, invertebrates or larvae. So they replenish the reserves of minerals in the body.

Animals eat all parts of plants, like fruits. When it is cold outside, they feed on the bark of trees.

Porcupine breeding

Few porcupines live alone. Basically, they gather in monogamous couples, living in their own housing in whole groups. In such a group is a female, male and offspring. A monogamous couple occupies a separate area that covers a couple square km. Moreover, throughout the territory there is not one, but several reliable shelters at once. Territories are not protected by porcupines, but families rarely intersect with each other.

Reproduction depends on the territory where animals live. Southern species enter mating games throughout the year, while northern ones one or two times. At the same time, mating games in northern individuals occur in the spring.

Pregnancy occurs within 1.5-4 months. Birth takes place in a cozy room in a mink covered with grass. In total, no more than five porcupines are born. They are already completely ready for life - they have needles, teeth, eyes are open. At the same time, the needles begin to harden extremely quickly, so after a week they can strongly inject. The children are looked after by a male and a female together. The cubs are breastfed for another 1-3 months. After this period, animals eat only plants.

In order to maintain monogamy in pairs, animals constantly sniff each other, often enter mating and feed each other. Mating is performed even when the female feeds the cubs or is pregnant.

Porcupine male and female: main differences

These animals are not characterized by sexual dimorphism. For this reason, external differences between males and females are not observed.

Porcupine classification

Soviet sources indicate four genera of porcupine, Russian sources indicate five genera of porcupine, including the genus Acanthion (Malay porcupines):

1. Genus Wormtail (Atherurus);
   • African carp-tail porcupine (Atherurus africanus);
   • Asian carp-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus);
2. Genus Porcupines (Hystrix);
   • Malay porcupine (Hystrix brachyura);
   • Javanese porcupine (Hystrix javanica);
   • South African porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis);
   • Crested (comb) porcupine (Hystrix cristata);
   • Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica);
   • Cruciform porcupine (Hystrix crassispinis);
   • Philippine porcupine (Hystrix pumila);
   • Sumatran porcupine (Hystrix sumatrae);
3. Landaki, otherwise called Indonesian (Thecurus);
4. Genus Long-tailed porcupines (Trichys);
   • Long Tailed Porcupine (Trichys fasciculata);
5. Genus Malayan porcupines (Acanthion).

At the same time, only three genera are mentioned in foreign sources, with the exception of Malay and Indonesian. Malays are ranked as Hystrix along with Javanese, South African, Crested, Indian, Rigid Needle, Philippine and Sumatran.

African and Asian are reckoned to the crab-tailed. Long-tailed are distinguished by a separate genus.

Types of porcupines, photos, names

Malay porcupine

A large variety of porcupines is considered Malay. They grow up to 0.72 m, weigh up to 2.4 kilograms. The tail is medium - up to 11 cm. The needles are yellowish or of a standard black and white color. They breed twice each year, 2-3 cubs are born. They feed on plant foods, sometimes they eat carrion and insects. They live in forests, land cultivated by people located at heights of up to 1.3 km. They live in Asian countries.

South African porcupine

South African porcupines are considered the largest rodents on the continent. They grow up to 80 cm and weigh up to 24 kilograms. The tail is also medium in size - up to 13 cm. They are distinguished by a long white stripe that runs along the entire croup. Needles the size of up to half a meter, also on the body of the animal there are flat hairs resembling bristles. Animals prefer only plant foods. Porcupines of this species can be found in Africa. They do not live in forests, do not rise in the mountains above 2 km above the sea.

Crested porcupine

The crested porcupine is a large rodent that is second only to two animals - the South American capybara and the beaver. The view is called so thanks to the crest on the head. This species is most common in nature. Individuals grow to 0.9 m, weigh up to 27 kilograms. The body is completely dotted with short as well as long needles. The longest spines grow to 0.4 m. Some of the animals living in the northern regions breed in the spring. Southern inhabitants reproduce throughout the year - 2-3 times. Animals are almost vegetarians - invertebrates are very rarely eaten, and in winter they feed on bark. They live in the mountains, less often in the deserts. You can meet in the Middle East, in Asian countries, as well as in Italy and the Sicilian islands.

Indian porcupine

Indian porcupines are large enough animals, measuring up to 0.9 meters and weighing up to 18 kilograms. The standard black and white color, however, it seems that the color of the animal is white, black and brown. The lower body and head are dark brown. They feed only on plant foods, prefer bulbs and roots of plants. Produced no more than twice a year. In one brood, from one to four cubs. Animals are quite picky about their place of residence, so you can meet them in many climatic zones. They live in India and are distributed throughout Asia - from the eastern part of Transcaucasia, to Kazakhstan, Central and Southeast Asia ..

Javanese porcupine

Javanese live only in a certain territory - in Indonesia. It can be found on individual islands - Java, Bali, etc.

Interesting fact: porcupines are naturally herbivorous, but can sometimes be eaten by insects. However, some species remain full vegetarians.

Pig porcupine

Pig porcupines - also found exclusively on one island of Borneo. They are armed with extremely dangerous needles. Similar to Sumatran porcupines, which are found in Sumatra. However, stiff-necked porcupines are much larger and stronger. They settle in forests, small mountains, rarely in cities, lands with plantings. Eat plants and fruits.

Sumatran porcupine

Sumatran porcupines live only in Sumatra. Smaller than stiff needles. They grow to 0.56 meters and weigh up to 5.4 kilograms. The tail is long - up to 19 cm. Sharp thorns grow flat throughout the body, flat and hollow inside. The porcupine's body is also studded with small sharp setae up to 16 cm long. The animals are almost completely brown, half of the needles have white endings. Sometimes the bottom of the neck is covered with white spots. They feed on plants, live in forests, in rocky areas. Rarely can climb mountains up to 0.3 km above the sea.

Long-tailed porcupine

Long-tailed - dramatically different from the rest of the species. Needles cannot hurt the enemy much - they are soft and very flexible. For the same reason, the animal does not emit menacing cod in danger. Very similar to large rats. The needles are not very long, for the most part are closer to the tail. The back is brown, and the lower body is slightly white. They grow medium-sized - up to 0.5 meters, weigh up to 2.25 kilograms. The name was given due to a very long tail - up to 0.23 m. The tail comes off easily, so you can often find tailless adult females and males. They know how to climb trees. They feed on plants, they love the fruits of trees. They practically do not feed on insects. They live in forests and close to farmland. They are found on two islands - Sumatra, Borneo.

African Crab-Tailed Porcupine

African crab-tail porcupine is one of the most common large species. They grow to 0.6 m. The rodent's tail is in no way inferior to the previous species and grows to the same size. Along the entire back of the animal is a mass of large and small needles. The name came about due to the small brush on the end of the tail. It consists entirely of thick hair, similar to a brush of either a slightly white or white-brown shade. The rest of the tail is almost not covered with hair - there are only scales. At the base, the tail is covered with needles. Lives in forests near ponds, knows how to swim. This species feeds on plants and invertebrates. They are found in Central Africa.

Porcupine interaction with humans

Animals are practically not afraid of people, but they are wary of them. Porcupines love fruits, especially gourds. They specially settle near human gardens and steal crops at night. Unfortunately, animals damage equipment for irrigation and fencing, so people began to exterminate them. Now porcupines have practically stopped bothering farmers due to a decrease in the number of populations.

Previously, many tribes hunted animals because of needles and arrows. At the moment, porcupine meat is considered a delicacy among many peoples of Africa.