porcupine n : relatively large rodents with sharp erectile bristles mingled with the fur [syn: hedgehog]

English

Etymology

Literally spiny-pig, from porcus, + spinus.

Noun

1. A large rodent with long quills that stand straight up when it is attacked or surprised.

Related terms

• hystricine
• porcine
• porcus

Translations

See also

• echidna
• hedgehog
• spiny anteater

Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend them from predators. They are endemic in both the Old World and the New World. After the capybara and the beaver, Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents. Most porcupines are about 25-36 inches (60-90 cm) long, with an 8-10 inch (20-25 cm) long tail. Weighing between 12-35 pounds (5-16 kg), they are rounded, large and slow. Porcupines come in various shades of brown, grey, and the unusual white. The name "porcupine" comes from Middle French porc d'épine "thorny pig". Porcupines' spiny protection resembles that of the distantly related Erinaceomorph hedgehogs and more distantly related Monotreme Echidnas.

Species

A porcupine is any of 27 species of rodent belonging to the families Erethizontidae or Hystricidae. All defend themselves with hair modified into sharp spines.

Porcupines vary in size considerably: Rothschild's Porcupine of South America weighs less than a kilogram (20); the African Porcupine can grow to well over 20 kg (440).

The two families of porcupines are quite different and although both belong to the Hystricognathi branch of the vast order Rodentia, they are not closely related..

The eleven Old World porcupines are almost exclusively terrestrial, tend to be fairly large, and have quills that are grouped in clusters. They separated from the other hystricognaths about 30 million years ago, much earlier than the New World porcupines. The twelve New World porcupines are mostly smaller (although the North American Porcupine reaches about in length and ), have their quills attached singly rather than grouped in clusters, and are excellent climbers, spending much of their time in trees. The New World porcupines evolved their spines independently (through convergent evolution) and are more closely related to several other families of rodent than they are to the Old World porcupines.

Quills

Salt licks

Porcupines in search of salt sometimes encroach on human habitats, eating plywood cured with sodium nitrate, certain paints, and tool handles, footwear, clothes and other items that have been coated in salty sweat. Porcupines are attracted to roads in areas where rock salt is used to melt ice and snow, and are known to gnaw on vehicle tires or wiring coated in road salt. Salt licks placed nearby can prevent porcupines from injuring themselves.

Natural sources of salt consumed by porcupines include varieties of salt-rich plants (such as yellow water lily and aquatic liverwort), fresh animal bones, outer tree bark, mud in salt-rich soils, and objects impregnated with urine.

Porcupines as food

In parts of Africa and Europe, porcupines are eaten as a form of bushmeat. Porcupine meat is also appreciated in some regions of Italy and Vietnam.

Etymology and Mythology

• The name "porcupine" comes from Middle French porc d'épine which could be translated as "thorny", "spined", or "quilled" "pork" or "pig", hence the nickname "quill pig" for the animal. A group of porcupines is called a "prickle".
• From ancient times it was believed that porcupines can throw their quills at an enemy. This has long been refuted, being the result of loose quills being shaken free.

Order Rodentia

• Suborder Hystricomorpha
  • Infraorder Hystricognathi
    • Family Hystricidae: Old World porcupines
      • African Brush-tailed Porcupine, Atherurus africanus
      • Asiatic Brush-tailed Porcupine, Atherurus macrourus
      • African Porcupine, Hystrix cristata
      • Cape Porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis
      • Himalayan Porcupine, Hystrix hodgsoni
      • Indian Porcupine, Hystrix indicus
      • Malayan Porcupine, Hystrix brachyura
      • Sunda Porcupine, Hystrix javanica
      • Sumatran Porcupine, Hystrix sumatrae
      • Bornean Porcupine, Thecurus crassispinis
      • Philippine Porcupine, Thecurus pumilis
      • Long-tailed Porcupine, Trichys fasciculata''
    • Family Thryonomyidae: cane rats
    • Family Petromuridae: Dassie Rat
    • Family Bathyergidae: African mole-rats
    • Family Hydrochaeridae: capybara
    • Family Caviidae: cavies
    • Family Dasyproctidae: agoutis and acouchis
    • Family Erethizontidae: New World porcupines
      • Brazilian Porcupine, Coendou prehensilis
      • Bicolor-spined Porcupine, Coendou bicolor
      • Koopman's Porcupine, Coendou koopmani
      • Rothschild's Porcupine, Coendou rothschildi
      • Mexican Tree Porcupine, Sphiggurus mexicanus
      • South American Tree Porcupine, Sphiggurus spinosus
      • Bahia Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Sphiggurus insidiosus
      • Pallid Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Sphiggurus pallidus (extinct)
      • Brown Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Sphiggurus vestitus
      • Orange-spined Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Sphiggurus villosus
      • North American Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum
      • Stump-tailed Porcupine, Echinoprocta rufescens
      • Bristle-spined Porcupine, Chaetomys subspinosus (sometimes considered an echymid)
    • Family Chinchillidae: chinchillas and allies
    • Family Ctenomyidae: tuco-tucos
    • Family Myocastoridae: Coypu
    • Family Octodontidae: octodonts
    • Family Ctenodactylidae: gundis

References

External links

• Porcupine Facts and Photos - NatureMapping Program
• Porcupines: Wildlife summary from the African Wildlife Foundation
• "Resource Cards: What About Porcupines?" Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
• Porcupine control in the western states hosted by the UNT Government Documents Department
• Why the porcupine is the logo of the Free State Project

Cape polecat, ape, bar, bear, cavy, chimp, chimpanzee, coon, ferret, foumart, glutton, groundhog, guinea pig, hedgehog, monk, monkey, mousehound, opossum, polecat, possum, prairie dog, quill pig, raccoon, skunk, weasel, whistle-pig, wolverine, woodchuck, zoril