Kingdom : Animalia Class : Mammalia Family : Erethizontidae Scientific Name : Erethizon Dorsaum Size : 50 - 90cm (20 - 35in) Weight : 5.4 - 16kg (12 - 35lbs) Top Speed : 3km/h (2mph) Life Span : 8 - 12 years Colour : Brown, Grey, Black, Yellow Skin Type : Spikes Special Features : Broad, stout body and toxic spikes
- Porcupines are one of the largest rodents in the world.
- They are found in Asian, European, American and some African Jungles and forests.
- Though they are believed to be from the same family as the Hedgehogs, their DNA is not that old.
- There are around 30 species of porcupines found in their native habitat.
- Depending on the species they vary in size from 50-90cm.
- Some porcupines may weigh as less as 1kg whereas some may weigh as much as 12kg.
- They are mostly grey or brown in color with some rare species being white in color too.
- The quills of the porcupine are sharp and needle-like and are around 7cm in length, much longer than those of hedgehogs.
- The quills are venomous, painful and difficult to remove from the skin of the porcupine’s attacker.
- Some of the large predators of porcupines have died due to infection from the quills.
- Porcupines are omnivores feeding primarily on roots, leaves, berries, insects, eggs and small reptiles.
- They are quite vocal during the mating season.
- The female porcupine gives birth to a single pup after a 7-month gestation.
- The quills of a newborn pup are very soft and need time to harden up.