Long before European colonial settlers introduced the trade in glass beads to North America, porcupine quills were the medium Native artists across the continent used to adorn baskets and clothing. Porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, that protect them against predators. The term covers two families of animals, the Old World porcupines in the family Hystricidae, and the New World porcupines in the family Erethizontidae.
Porcupine, any of several species of large, herbivorous, quill-bearing rodents active from early evening to dawn. All have short stocky legs, but their tails range from short to long, some being prehensile. There are, in total, 27 species of porcupine belonging to the families, Erethizontidae or Hystricidae. Porcupines (like monkeys) are divided into New World (Erethizontidae) and Old World (Hystricidae) porcupines and are quite different from each other and are not closely related.
porcupine in indiana, The spiny outer protective layer of a porcupine resembles that of hedgehogs, which are not related. The name porcupine comes from the Latin words ‘porcus’ and ‘spina’ which translate to mean ‘pig spine’, or ‘quill pig’. The North American porcupine is one of the largest rodents found in North America, coming second to the North America beaver. They weigh around 20 pounds (9 kilograms) and are 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 centimeters) in length. The North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is the second largest rodent in North America, after the North American beaver.
porcupine in indiana, In addition, the range of this species is the northernmost of all porcupines. North American Porcupine - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures ... - Animalia
