Porcupine
Erithizon dorsatum
Body length: 18 - 22"
Diet: Inner bark of trees, buds, cacti
Many people are surprised to hear that porcupines live in the desert. In fact,
although usually found at higher elevations in Arizona, this wood-gnawing rodent
of the forest is an occasional visitor here as well. Desert porcupines feed on
the bark of mesquite and the fruit of prickly pear
cactus. Porcupines are
best known for their quills, which are actually modified hairs. Quills are an
effective defense against predators such as dogs, although mountain
lions can learn to roll them over and kill them by slashing at their unprotected
underside. Porcupines cannot throw their spines, but they come out readily when
the animal is touched.
Porcupines are indeed unusual rodents, belonging to a separate branch of the rodent
family that occurs mainly in South America.
NPS
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Updated
May 8, 2005