North American Porcupine
Erethizon dorsatum
Conservation Status
Least ConcernMammalia · Rodentia · Erethizontidae
About
The North American porcupine, also known as the Canadian porcupine, is a large quill-covered rodent in the New World porcupine family. It is the second largest rodent in North America after the North American beaver. The porcupine is a caviomorph rodent whose ancestors were believed to have crossed the Atlantic from Africa to Brazil 30 million years ago, and then migrated to North America during the Great American Interchange after the Isthmus of Panama rose 3 million years ago.
Fun Fact
North American porcupines crave salt so intensely that they gnaw on wooden tool handles, road signs, and even car tires for the salt left by human sweat or road brine.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Forests
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
15-18 years
Threats
- Habitat Fragmentation
- Wildfire