Animal porcupine: description, where it lives, whether it shoots quills, photos and funny videos of the porcupine. Does a porcupine shoot quills? Removing quills from dogs or other animals

27.08.2010 00:00

There are porcupines different sizes, body length from 38 to 90 cm and weight from 2 to 27 kg, respectively. Their physique is heavy and they move awkwardly. Most of their body is covered with needles, some of which reach 35cm. Muzzle, lower limbs and the ventral surface of the body is covered. The tail has goblet-shaped needles. The color of the long needles has alternating white and black rings.

This animal lives in Africa, Southern Europe, Asia. They are found, as a rule, in forest-steppe and forest areas of the tropics and subtropics. Porcupines are nocturnal animals. They eat different foods.

Females can have only one litter of 1, rarely 4 cubs per year. The duration of pregnancy itself is 42-110 days. , are born with soft needles, which become hard within a week.

These animals live 12-15 years, and those in captivity up to 20 years.

There is a legend that says that the porcupine is capable of throwing quills at the enemy.

In fact, a porcupine can throw quills with enough great strength, if he shakes his skin. Its needles can easily stick into wooden planks.

A similar effect is achieved due to a sharp contraction of the circular muscles surrounding each needle at the base.

Porcupines are medium-sized rodents well known for their ability to defend themselves by driving barbed quills at their attackers. But contrary to popular myths, porcupines do not launch their quills; they are more likely to avoid people than attack them. However, if a porcupine drives its quills into human flesh, the results can be painful and contagious, so follow these guidelines the next time you encounter a porcupine.

Porcupines: myths and facts
Porcupines live in the Americas, Europe, South Asia and Africa, and they are often the size of a medium-sized cat or dog. Porcupines vary in color, ranging from brown to gray and rarely white. They are covered with spines or spines, which serve as both camouflage and defense mechanism. You can meet a porcupine at any time of the year and at any time of day, but they lead night image live and feed on the ground or in trees, so you are more likely to encounter a porcupine at night when it is looking for food.

It is a myth that porcupines can aim and throw their quills at predators. Instead, the porcupine's quills become detached from the porcupine's body as the predator comes into contact with them. A porcupine can also launch quills when it shakes its body. Porcupine quills are made of thick, overlapping scales of keratin, and they are serrated so that when they enter the predator's flesh, they are detached from the porcupine.

This process is completely painful for the porcupine, which eventually grows new quills, but the barbed quills are difficult to remove and can cause infection in the predator. There have been recorded cases of leopards being killed by porcupine quills, which pierce vital organs of the animal, like the liver (youtube.com/watch?v=FhiQKxurhqg).

Interesting facts about porcupines
1. The origin of the word "porcupine" can be traced to old English and French words.
The word porcupine is derived from the French word "porc d" espine, which means "prickly pig." English options: "porcupyne" and "porcapyne".

2. Porcupines are the third largest rodent in the world and second in North America.
They come behind beavers (2nd place) and capybaras (first place).

Photo. Porcupine quills

3. A porcupine has approximately 30,000 quills on its body.
Typically, a porcupine has soft hair mixed with quills that grow on its back, sides, and tail. Lost needles are replaced with new ones.

4. There are two various types porcupines.
Old world porcupines live in southern Europe, Asia and Africa. New World porcupines are found in North America and northern South America.

5. Old world porcupines cannot climb trees, but they are excellent swimmers.
In America, porcupines are able to cling to trees with their tails and catch branches if they fall.

6. Porcupines are nocturnal herbivores.
Porcupines are primarily nocturnal creatures; they rest during the day in hollow logs and trees, crevices, and later emerge to feed on tree bark, grass, branches, stems, berries, etc.

7. Their needles contain medicine.
Each quill contains a unique antibiotic so that if attacked, the porcupine can avoid infection. This protection mechanism also prevents infection from accidental acupuncture.

8. Porcupine babies have soft quills at birth that harden within a few days.
A pair of porcupines usually gives birth to two young, with both parents caring for their young. Porcupines leave their mother at about 6 months of age, when they can fend for themselves.

9. Porcupine quills have overlapping spines, making them difficult to remove.
Each needle has between 700 and 800 spines along its tip.

10. Porcupines mate during a ritual, fighting fiercely and defecating on the female.
A typical mating ritual involves two males fighting for a free female. Males are careful in their actions so as not to injure themselves during the fight; as a result, the winner urinates on the female.

11. Native Americans in the past used porcupine quills to decorate themselves. They also used porcupines as a food source. Porcupines can live 15-18 years.

Some porcupine incidents

Woman got 200 porcupine quills in her head after the animal fell on her head

Photo. Porcupine quills in a woman's head

According to workers at a Brazilian hospital, a woman was taken to the hospital after a porcupine fell on her.

A Brazilian woman has described her agony following a terrifying incident after a porcupine fell on her head while she was walking her dog. Nabucco Sandra, 52, was left with 200 needles in her scalp after an unfortunate incident in Rio de Janeiro on January 20, 2014. The housewife was taken by neighbors to a local hospital, where each needle was removed individually without anesthesia.

“I was taken by surprise. I felt something fall on my head and then I felt the needles in my hands. The pain was intense. The surgeon took them out with tweezers. We stopped counting when we counted 150, but it is quite possible that there were about 200,” the woman recalls.

"I strong woman, old man or the child would die,” she said.

According to the initial investigation, the porcupine fell onto her head from a lamppost.

A man grabbed a porcupine with his bare hands

Photo. Porcupine quills in a man's hand

In 2010, a 34-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department of the Santa Casa de Ubatuba Municipal Hospital in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with numerous needles in his left arm. The injured tourist reported seeing the porcupine in the woods near his holiday home and tried to catch it, knowing nothing about the animal, even as it bristled and became more aggressive.

While holding the animal tightly, several needles entered the palm and fingers of the left hand, causing pain and psychomotor agitation. The needles were removed with pliers during transurethral anesthesia. Thereafter, the patient was treated with cephalosporin for ten days and instructed to wash the affected area with soap and water three times daily. Ten days later, the victim fully recovered.

How to avoid a collision with a porcupine
Since porcupines are nocturnal animals, take extra care when walking at night and be aware of this, especially if you are in a porcupine habitat.

North American porcupines (porcupines) can climb trees to search for food. Carry a flashlight with you when you walk at night, and hike on clear trails so you can see a porcupine before you stumble upon one.

Porcupines are usually afraid of large animals such as people and they are not prone to aggressive attacks. If a porcupine is threatened, it will expose its quills towards a potential predator. A porcupine may also swing its quill-covered tail toward a potential predator, but porcupines are typically short-sighted and slow-moving, so they are unlikely to react to your presence by launching a furious attack.

Without turning your back to it, slowly move away from a porcupine that appears alarmed, either give the porcupine plenty of space to leave the area or walk around it and let it go where it goes. Make sure you don't startle the animal or get close enough to touch its quills.

How to Remove Porcupine Quills and Heal a Wound
Remove the porcupine quills as quickly as possible to prevent swelling and make the process even more painful. If you have scissors or a knife in your equipment, or better yet, pliers, use these tools. Cut off the tip of the needle to make removal easier by releasing the pressure in the needle, and then grasp the needle firmly with pliers.

Remove the needle in one strong movement, being careful not to twist it or break it in the process. Do not pull out the needles with your fingers, as the barbs on the needles may hurt your fingers. Repeat this process for each needle you need to remove.

If you are at home, you can make needle removal easier by mixing a solution of vinegar and baking soda and absorbing the stuck needles of the solution until they soften. After removing all needles, wash the affected area with soap and water and apply antibiotic ointment. Take or use a pain reliever or antihistamine as needed to reduce pain and swelling. Watch for signs of infection, including redness, swelling, and fluid. Go to the doctor at the first sign of infection, and seek immediate medical attention if needles damage a vital part of the body or if they become lodged in the face, eyes, or mouth.

Porcupines belong to the group of mammals of the rodent order. This representative of the world fauna is unique in its kind, its appearance cannot be confused with another animal. Distinctive feature- the presence of extremely long needles. Their length can reach half a meter with a thickness of up to seven millimeters. Let's look at what they eat and how they behave wildlife.

Appearance

An animal's coat includes several types of hair. Among them:

• Needles of great length and hardness.
• Elastic oblong bristles.
• Flat needles.
• Soft fur.
• Hard hair.

Regardless of where porcupines live, the longest quills are found on the mammal's back. They often fall out without causing much discomfort to the animal. Between these elements there are shortened prickly analogues (from 15 to 30 cm long), and soft fur is hidden under them. The head and lower part are covered with hair, the tail has bristles and needles of a specific configuration.

Features of the structure of porcupine quills

These hairline elements are hollow. Inside they are filled with a spongy horny composition. When danger appears, the animal, with the help of developed muscles, lifts them like a fan, bending back and shaking the crest, creating a rattling noise. The animal's hair is brown in color. varying degrees, while the needles are decorated with black and white patterns.

Structure of the torso and limbs

The body length of the porcupine, the photo of which is presented below, ranges from 380 to 900 millimeters, weight from 2 to 26 kg. Weight varies depending on the species and fatness of the individual. The beast's legs, short and clumsy, are covered with fine hair brown. Due to this, porcupines move slowly, waddling or running hard. The front paws have 3 or 4 toes, the hind paws have five with one undeveloped process. Each finger has a tenacious, strong claw at the end. The soles of the limbs are absolutely smooth. Most animals in this group have a medium-length tail (about 150 mm).

Head

The porcupine has an elongated oval skull with well-developed facial bones. The animal's muzzle is blunt, rounded, with little fur. Some species have a comb with bristles on their heads.

Porcupines have strong molars with a flat chewing surface. The incisors are more developed, stand out with an orange tint of enamel, and are clearly visible from the outside even with closed mouth. Teeth growth continues throughout life, which prevents them from grinding down. The beast has 20 teeth.

The animal's eyes are round, small, and pushed back. The ears are almost invisible; their structure resembles a similar human organ. The mammal in question is not noisy; it can not be heard very often; when anxiety or danger arises, they often puff and grunt displeasedly.

What does a porcupine eat?

These animals eat mostly at night. They move away in search of food several kilometers from their permanent habitat. Spiny rodents are not particularly afraid of humans, so they can visit fields and melon fields, where they feast on melons, grapes, watermelons and other agricultural crops. Along well-trodden paths you can easily find a porcupine's hideout.

As a rule, animals eat in pairs. Usually the female and male move half a meter apart. What does a porcupine eat, besides plant foods? Some individuals can feast on insects, larvae and invertebrate fauna. From vegetarian menu Almost all parts of plants are used, which allows the animal to replenish the supply of mineral salts and vitamins in the body. IN cold period Rodents consume a lot of tree bark.

Protection from danger

Many people believe that the porcupine (see photo in the review) shoots quills at enemies. This is wrong. Firstly, the spikes simply do not stick well to the animal’s body and often fall out, which creates the illusion of peculiar shots. Secondly, anatomical structure curved needles were not initially designed for stabilization in flight. Visually, it may seem that the porcupine, after a sharp throw and lightning-fast rebound from the enemy, attacks him as if from a distance.

Also, rodent needles do not contain poison. Painful wounds from injections really take a long time to heal. This is due to the fact that particles of thorns can remain in the wound, causing suppuration, and dirt on the surface provokes infection.

Where do they live?

Porcupines primarily live in the following habitats:

• Europe.
• North and South America.
• Transcaucasia.
• India.
• Central and Southeast Asia.

Porcupines are animals that inhabit different regions according to climate and soil characteristics. They live in humid tropics, savannas, deserts, forests and mountainous areas. Many species live nearby agricultural land, where they feed.

According to its lifestyle, the rodent in question is a nocturnal inhabitant, who during the day hide in rocky crevices, burrows, and abandoned dwellings of other animals. The length of a homemade cave can reach about 10 meters with a depth of about 4 m. The floor of the hole is lined with grass, and the dwelling itself is divided into several rooms. In winter, porcupines do not hibernate, but their activity decreases noticeably.

Enemies

Despite the presence of sharp quills, the porcupine is often preyed on by coyotes, lynxes, wolves, foxes and bears. The rodent is not known for cowardice; when it sees a predator, it begins to stomp its feet, raises its spines and turns its back aggressively towards the attacker, demonstrating its defense in full readiness.

The next stage of repelling an attack is a sharp jump and a piercing blow to the enemy. It is believed that cases of attacks by tigers and other predatory cats on people are associated specifically with the porcupine. Animals wounded by needles do not have the necessary agility to catch quick prey and begin hunting defenseless people.

Where porcupines live, the main threat to them is humans. Because the animals destroy crops and cause much more damage, farmers mercilessly exterminate them. Another reason for hunting these animals is the delicious tender meat, reminiscent of a rabbit.

Porcupine(Hystrix) – an animal, a large rodent with a spiny tail. In the genus of rodents of the porcupine family, the most famous animal is the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata). Porcupines live in the wild different types V different parts light with moderate and warm climate. Porcupines can live and breed in captivity, which is why porcupines can be seen in zoos. In captivity, porcupines quickly adapt and can live for about 20 years. The sharp quills from the porcupine's tail provide this rodent with excellent protection from predators of all sizes.

Description of the porcupine. This is a large rodent. The body length is up to 90 cm and the length of the tail is up to 15 cm. The weight of a porcupine can reach from 8 to 25 kg. The porcupine's body is powerful, densely covered with very sharp quills different lengths. Porcupine quills are a hollow tube with a point at the end. Porcupine quills are not straight; they are curved, especially long quills. The color of the needles alternates along the length with dark and light areas. The needles fit loosely on the body and can easily fall out and break. Between the needles there are many hard bristly hairs. The porcupine has two types of quills: the first are long and flexible, can reach about 45 cm in length, the other quills are short and thick, about 30 cm long and 5-7 mm thick. There is a hard ridge on the head, on the sides of the body the quills are not very long and not very sharp, on the back and tail of the porcupine the quills are long and very sharp. The quills on a porcupine's tail are often broken and have the tops cut off. With the help of highly developed muscles, the porcupine can control the quills, quickly raise all its quills and lower them. The lower part of the porcupine's body is covered with fur with dark hairs. The porcupine's muzzle is rounded and has no quills. The eyes are small and round, the ears are small and barely noticeable. Like all rodents, the porcupine's teeth are strong and strong, well developed, especially the incisors. The teeth are covered with orange enamel. The porcupine's legs are short; on such clumsy legs the porcupine waddles and moves slowly, but can also run. The porcupine is silent when it is calm, but when there is danger or irritation, the porcupine gives voice, it grunts and puffs.

Pictured are porcupines at the Odessa Zoo

Porcupine lifestyle. The porcupine is predominantly nocturnal. Porcupines spend almost the entire day and daylight hours sitting in their burrows. The porcupine emerges from the hole when complete darkness sets in. Porcupines can move several kilometers away from their home during the night. IN hibernation The porcupine does not fall in, however, with the onset of cold weather, the porcupine’s activity noticeably decreases and it leaves its hole less often and sits out in the hole more.

The porcupine is not afraid of people and often settles not far from people. The porcupine lives on plains, in forests and mountainous areas, and can climb high into the mountains. Living in the mountains, the porcupine makes its home among stones or in caves and mountain crevices. Porcupines living on plains and forests settle in depressions or dig holes with several exits. The porcupine's burrow is spacious, has several extensions, the length of the burrow can reach about 10-15 meters, and the depth of the burrow can go up to 3-4 meters. The porcupine makes a nest in one of the burrow extensions and lines it with greenery.

What do porcupines eat? Porcupine eats food plant origin. In spring and summer, this rodent feeds on green parts of plants and willingly gnaws roots, tubers and plant bulbs. At the end of summer and autumn, the fruits of many plants ripen and watermelons, melons, pumpkins, cucumbers, and grapes appear in the porcupine’s diet. IN winter time The porcupine gnaws more on the bark of trees and bushes, gnawing the lower part of the trunk. Quite rarely, a porcupine eats insects.

Reproduction of porcupines. Porcupines living in their northern habitats mate in the spring, in March - April. Pregnancy in porcupines lasts about 110 days, after which the female usually gives birth to 2-3 small porcupines, but sometimes more cubs can be born. Porcupines living in southern habitats mate in different times and can produce 2-3 litters of offspring in 1 year. Born porcupines immediately have vision and their teeth are already developed. At birth, porcupine cubs already have quills. The needles are very soft, but very quickly become hard and after 5-7 days they become prickly. The female porcupine continues feeding her babies for up to two weeks.

All about porcupines. Natural enemies the porcupine doesn't have so much. The porcupine's long and sharp quills provide excellent effective protection. Such quills easily protect the porcupine from lions, tigers, leopards, dogs and others large predators with sharp claws and fangs. The porcupine is not afraid of enemies. When enemies attack a porcupine, it does not run away or hide, but makes it clear to predators that they do not need to touch it. The porcupine begins to quickly stomp its hind legs and shake its quills, making a loud cracking noise. The porcupine turns its back to the enemy, showing the enemy its quills, he raises them in the form of a spread fan of quills. If this warning is not enough for the enemy, and the enemy does not retreat, then the porcupine goes on the attack. The porcupine stabs its enemy with quills with a short but quick and sharp throw made with its backside. The porcupine makes its throw with its backside very quickly, lightning fast, with a sharp and almost imperceptible movement, and after the throw it returns to the original position in which it stood before the throw.

Porcupine quills powerful weapon serving the rodent as good protection. Porcupine quills are very sharp and brittle; when thrown at an enemy, the quills instantly stick into the enemy, break and remain stuck in the enemy’s body. After such encounters with a porcupine, up to 50 porcupine quills of varying lengths can remain on the predator’s body, sticking out in different parts of the body. Multiple wounds from porcupine quills cause severe pain to any predator and force them to run away from the porcupine. Porcupine quills easily pierce the skin, stick into the body, into the muzzle, into the paws, and can easily get into the eye. After meeting a porcupine, the predator often becomes disabled and doomed to death. Predators cannot remove all these broken needles from their bodies on their own, and in most cases such injuries lead to the death of the predator, as they deprive him of the opportunity to hunt and doom him to starvation.

Thanks to this protection, the porcupine is not afraid of any of the large predators. Porcupine crossing the road when he sees a car, he does not give way to it, but perceives the car as a threat and begins to show it his quills, and thanks to this behavior, many porcupines die on the roads.

Does a porcupine shoot its quills? Many people spread stories about porcupines, saying that a porcupine can shoot its quills like arrows. But in reality this is not so and the porcupine cannot shoot with its quills.

Do porcupines grow quills? Broken and new quills on a porcupine grow back in a few weeks. There are several thousand quills on the body of a porcupine, about 30,000 of them. This number of sharp quills serves the porcupine as excellent protection from any enemies. The porcupine is as thorny as