New World Porcupines: Erethizontidae

New World porcupines are some of the largest North American rodents. They are stocky animals with many sharp quills, modified guard hairs, and spines that in most species are hidden beneath long fur but are visible in others. Quills lie facing downward and spines cover most of their upper bodies and tail, except for a few species that have no spines. The animals have a prehensile, able to grasp by wrapping around, tail that can reach about one-fourth to over one-half its length. Its head consists of a blunt muzzle, small rounded eyes that are nearly hidden by hair, and small rounded ears. Its body has humped shoulders, short bowed legs, and long curved claws. Adults are 15.5 to 51.0 inches (40 to 130 centimeters) long and weigh between 6.5 and 22.0 pounds (3 to 10 kilograms).