North American Porcupine Flashcards
What are the two alternate names for the North american porcupine?
Common porcupine, Canadian porcupine
When did the ancestors of the North American porcupine travel from Brazil to North America?
3 million years ago
What is the name of the important zoological event where the isthmus of Panama became a land bridge between North and South America and resulted in many species traveling between the two continents and when did it occur?
The Great American Interchange occurred 3 million years ago
What epoch did the great American interchange occur during?
Pilocene.
What is the range and habitat of the North American porcupine?
It is found throughout the North American continent in coniferous forests, mixed forests, tundra, shrubland, and desert.
Where do North American porcupines make their dens?
In trees or rocks.
Where does the porcupine’s name come from?
The French word “Porcepin”, which means “spiny pig”
What does the scientific name of the porcupine mean roughly translated?
The animal with the irritating back
True or false? There were other ancient porcupines in North America, but the North American porcupine was the only one that survived.
True.
How many subspecies are there of the North American porcupine?
Seven.
How long can North American porcupines get?
3 feet long
How much does the average North American porcupine weigh?
20 pounds
How many quills does the North American porcupine have?
30,000
True or false? Porcupines throw their quills.
False, but the quills do detach very easily and are hard to remove.
Out of the more than 1000 tree species in its native range, how many will the North American porcupine feed on?
2
True or false? Porcupines have good eyesight.
False. they are extremely nearsighted.
How has a picky diet made North American porcupines intelligent?
It has allowed them to memorize complex mazes and navigate them hundreds of days later to find food.
Why are North American porcupines the only American mammals with antibiotics in their skin?
They often fall out of trees reaching for buds at the ends of branches and stab themselves with their own quills.
What do North American porcupines eat?
Twigs, leaves, bark, berries, and vegetation.
When are North American porcupines active and where do they spend the rest of their time?
They are mostly nocturnal and spend most of the day in trees.
North American porcupines do not hibernate. what do they do in winter?
They sleep a lot and stay close to their dens.
Are North American porcupines solitary? Why?
Yes they are solitary. They have no need for herds because of the strength of their defense.
When do the quills of a newborn porcupine harden?
A few hours after birth.
How do porcupines mate?
They tighten their skin and hold their quills flat.
Why are porcupines sometimes considered a pest?
they love to chew on wood and leather.
Why is plywood likely to be chewed by porcupines?
Salts are added during production.
What did Native Americans use porcupines for?
Weaving, decoration, and food.
How do predators attack a porcupine?
They stun them and flip them over.
What is the most efficient porcupine predator?
The male fisher.
What is the first thing the North American porcupine will try to do when threatened?
Climb a tree.
