Counting on Africa
Educational Childrens Books Publisher
Porcupine
The Cape porcupine is the largest rodent in Southern Africa and a nocturnal creature equipped with a remarkable defense system.
When threatened, a porcupine does not shoot its quills. Instead, it will raise and fan out its long quills to appear larger. It vigorously rattles the hollow quills on its tail to create a warning rattle. If the predator persists, the porcupine will stamp its feet, grunt loudly, and then reverse charge with surprising speed, jabbing its attacker with the sharp quills. These quills are loosely attached and easily dislodge upon contact, with backward-facing barbs that make them extremely painful and difficult to remove.
Primarily a herbivore, it uses its strong claws and powerful incisors to dig for roots, tubers, and bark, playing an important role in its ecosystem.
DID YOU KNOW?
Antibiotic Vaccine
Porcupine quills have antibiotic properties. This is a safety feature for the porcupine itself; if it accidentally stabs itself, the quills help prevent infection from the wound.
Toothy Business
Their front teeth, or incisors, never stop growing. They are worn down constantly by all the gnawing they do on tough plant matter and even bones, which they chew for calcium and to sharpen their teeth.
Tiny Pines
A baby porcupine is called a porcupette. Its quills are soft at birth but begin to harden within a few hours, providing protection from a very young age.
Porcupines are Africas largest rodent.
Porcupine Quills are made of keratin - just like your fingernails!
Porcupines are herbivores and feed on plants, bark and roots.
Porcupines are Africas largest rodent.
