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Flashcards in North American Porcupine Deck (30)
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1
Q

What are the two alternate names for the North american porcupine?

A

Common porcupine, Canadian porcupine

2
Q

When did the ancestors of the North American porcupine travel from Brazil to North America?

A

3 million years ago

3
Q

What is the name of the important zoological event where the isthmus of Panama became a land bridge between North and South America and resulted in many species traveling between the two continents and when did it occur?

A

The Great American Interchange occurred 3 million years ago

4
Q

What epoch did the great American interchange occur during?

A

Pilocene.

5
Q

What is the range and habitat of the North American porcupine?

A

It is found throughout the North American continent in coniferous forests, mixed forests, tundra, shrubland, and desert.

6
Q

Where do North American porcupines make their dens?

A

In trees or rocks.

7
Q

Where does the porcupine’s name come from?

A

The French word “Porcepin”, which means “spiny pig”

8
Q

What does the scientific name of the porcupine mean roughly translated?

A

The animal with the irritating back

9
Q

True or false? There were other ancient porcupines in North America, but the North American porcupine was the only one that survived.

A

True.

10
Q

How many subspecies are there of the North American porcupine?

A

Seven.

11
Q

How long can North American porcupines get?

A

3 feet long

12
Q

How much does the average North American porcupine weigh?

A

20 pounds

13
Q

How many quills does the North American porcupine have?

A

30,000

14
Q

True or false? Porcupines throw their quills.

A

False, but the quills do detach very easily and are hard to remove.

15
Q

Out of the more than 1000 tree species in its native range, how many will the North American porcupine feed on?

A

2

16
Q

True or false? Porcupines have good eyesight.

A

False. they are extremely nearsighted.

17
Q

How has a picky diet made North American porcupines intelligent?

A

It has allowed them to memorize complex mazes and navigate them hundreds of days later to find food.

18
Q

Why are North American porcupines the only American mammals with antibiotics in their skin?

A

They often fall out of trees reaching for buds at the ends of branches and stab themselves with their own quills.

19
Q

What do North American porcupines eat?

A

Twigs, leaves, bark, berries, and vegetation.

20
Q

When are North American porcupines active and where do they spend the rest of their time?

A

They are mostly nocturnal and spend most of the day in trees.

21
Q

North American porcupines do not hibernate. what do they do in winter?

A

They sleep a lot and stay close to their dens.

22
Q

Are North American porcupines solitary? Why?

A

Yes they are solitary. They have no need for herds because of the strength of their defense.

23
Q

When do the quills of a newborn porcupine harden?

A

A few hours after birth.

24
Q

How do porcupines mate?

A

They tighten their skin and hold their quills flat.

25
Q

Why are porcupines sometimes considered a pest?

A

they love to chew on wood and leather.

26
Q

Why is plywood likely to be chewed by porcupines?

A

Salts are added during production.

27
Q

What did Native Americans use porcupines for?

A

Weaving, decoration, and food.

28
Q

How do predators attack a porcupine?

A

They stun them and flip them over.

29
Q

What is the most efficient porcupine predator?

A

The male fisher.

30
Q

What is the first thing the North American porcupine will try to do when threatened?

A

Climb a tree.