The porcupine is the prickliest of rodents. Its Latin name is quill pig. There are more than two dozen porcupine species. The coat of quills is to protect it from predators. Some quills, of Africa porcupines, are nearly a foot long.
Porcupines have soft hair, but on their back, sides, and tail it is usually sharp quills. These quills lie flat until a porcupine is threatened, then the quills point up. Porcupines cannot shoot them at predators. Quills have sharp tips that make them hard to remove once they are stuck in another animal's skin. Porcupines grow new quills in replace the ones they lose. Porcupines are found in North and South America. They are also good climbers and spend much of their time in trees. The North American porcupine is the only species that lives in the U.S. and Canada. It is also the largest of all porcupines. North American porcupines use their large front teeth to satisfy a healthy appetite for wood. Other porcupine species live in Africa, Europe, and Asia. These animals usually live on the ground in deserts, grasslands, and forests. There are 29 spices of porcupines. Babies have soft quills at birth, which harden within a few days. Most young porcupines are ready to live on their own at about two months of age. Ashleigh
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AuthorMy name is Ashleigh. This is where I post my blogs about animals. I am eight years old, and I am home schooled. Archives
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