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Known for their 30,000 long, sharp quills, porcupines are found in
Minnesota’s forest lands. Their quills are actually modified hairs over a sheet
of muscle which they use to lodge in and even kill an attacker. With this
unique defense system, they don’t need to move quickly.
Description: Adults can weigh between 4 kg and 6 kg (8.5
to 13 lbs.), and even up to 16.8 kg (37 lbs). Length: 58 to 99
cm (23 to 39 in) with a tail length of 16.5 to 20.8 cm (6.5 to
8.5 in). Height at the shoulder up to 30 cm (11.8 in) and on its
hind legs up to 109 cm (43 in). The porcupine is stocky, short-legged,
has small ears and eyes, and has an enlarged nasal cavity. The
modified hairs, or quills, grow dorsally from in front of the
eyes to the tip of the tail, longest at the shoulders. The quill
area is controlled by a muscular sheath, so the quills can be
erected when the animal is alarmed. In addition to the quills,
porcupines also have a soft underfur for warmth and longer guard
hairs. Tips of the quills are overlapping scales that swell up
when imbedded in flesh, making them hard to remove. Quills are
loosely attached to the porcupine. When attacked, the porcupine
will try to protect its head by rolling into a ball and arching
its back to the enemy. It may lash its tail quickly from side
to side, but quills are not "shot" out.
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