Interesting things about hedgehogs may not be known

Porcupine (Porcupine) is a large animal, moving slowly in a rodent with sharp spines on its back. They usually live on every continent except Antarctica. Scientists divided porcupine species into two different groups: Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) porcupines living in Africa, Europe, and Asia and Erethizontidae porcupines (New World porcupines) living in North America and North South America. North American porcupines are the only species found in Canada and the United States.

North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is the second largest rodent in North America, just after the Beaver, according to the University of Michigan, the Zoological Museum said.(Image source: A_Lein, Shutterstock.com).

Hedgehog's hair

All hedgehogs have some common characteristics. The most noticeable feature is long and sharp spiny hairs used to protect the entire body. The size of some hedgehog hairs can be as long as the length of the legs (about 30cm), like the hairs of the crested porcupine in Africa, according to National Geographic.

Hedgehogs use sharp spikes to protect themselves. They moved, ruffling their sharp thorns to warn potential predators. If that doesn't work, they will counter the predator's attack. Sharp spikes were loosely attached but could not fall or launch out, according to Animal Diversity Web.

North Africa mane

Some porcupines also have scales or spikes that make them hard to fall off. When a feather falls out, it will not lose completely. Because after a while, they will grow back. North American porcupines have 30,000 or more bristles, according to National Geographic.

Size

The largest porcupine is the North African porcupine, which has a body size 90 cm (36 inches) long. The smallest hedgehog is the short-haired Bahia porcupine, about 38cm (15 inches) long. The body weight of porcupines ranges from 1.2kg to 35kg, depending on the species and their tails can be 20-30cm (8-12inch) long, according to San Diego Zoo.

Short hair porcupine Bahia

The length of porcupine thorns varies from species to species.The Erethizontidae (New World porcupines) porcupines have short spiny hairs about 10cm long, while Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) porcupines are 51cm long, though there are some exceptions.

Living environment

In general, porcupines can live in all different terrains including deserts, grasslands, mountains, forests and rainforests. They often live on tree branches, roots, rock slots, bushes or logs, which is the home of hedgehogs.

Habit

Porcupines are nocturnal animals, meaning they are active at night and sleep during the day. At night, they go for food. N hím Erethizontidae (New World porcupines) often live on trees, while Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) porcupines live on the ground.

Hedgehogs do not live in groups. Both groups of this porcupine live individually, although Erethizontidae can live in pairs. Mother porcupines and baby porcupines are considered a family.

Foods

Porcupines are herbivores. This means that their main food is plants. Some hedgehogs like to eat wood, so they eat a lot of bark and trunk. In addition, they also eat nuts, seeds, seeds, grass, leaves, fruits and young shoots.

Although not eating meat, porcupines often gnaw on bones to sharpen teeth more sharply. Moreover, bones provide them with important minerals, like salt and calcium, to keep them healthy. Porcupines are known to eat insects and small lizards.

Reproduction

Mother's porcupine and baby porcupine.

Female porcupines are usually pregnant for a period of 16 to 31 weeks, depending on the species and each breed produces only 1-3, usually 2. The porcupine is called a child (porcupettes).

According to San Diego Zoo, the newborn urchin weighs only 3% of the mother's hedgehog's body weight. At birth, the bristles of baby porcupines are very soft and will harden a few days later. Porcupines mature after about 9 months to 2.5 years depending on the species and can live in the natural environment for about 15 years.

Classify

Erethizontidae (New World porcupines) of the New World Porcupine family (Erethizontidae), consisting of 4 genera and 12 species. Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) porcupines of Hystricidae (11) and 11 genera.

Below is the classification of North American porcupines, according to the Integrated Classification Information System (Integrated Taxonomic Information System - ITIS):

1. About: Animalia
2. Demarcation: Bilateria
3. World: Deuterostomia
4. Industry: Chordata
5. Subdivision: Vertebrata (vertebrate species)
6. Sector: Gnathostomata (animal with jaw)
7. Father class: Tetrapoda
8. Class: Mammalia
9. Th: Theria
10. Classification: Eutheria
11. Ministry: Rodentia
12. Hierarchy: Hystricomorpha
13. Order: Hystricognathi
14. Family: Erethizontidae
15. Subfamily: Erethizontinae
16. Chi: Erethizon
17. Species: Erethizon dorsatus, with seven subspecies

Conserve

Porcupine is an animal that is considered and most vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), but it depends on the species. . The listed species are the most vulnerable, including Phillipine porcupines and hard-haired porcupines. Currently there are no porcupines listed on the list of dangerous, but some porcupines do not have enough data to decide on conservation status.