Porc-épic d'Amérique— Quebec wildlife

The North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), also known as the Canadian porcupine, is a large quill-covered rodent in the New World porcupine family. It is the second largest rodent in North America after the North American beaver (Castor canadensis). The porcupine is a caviomorph rodent whose ancestors were believed to have crossed the Atlantic from Africa to Brazil 30 million years ago, and then migrated to North America during the Great American Interchange after the Isthmus of Panama rose 3 million years ago.

Description

Porcupines are usually dark brown or black in color, with white highlights. They have a stocky body, a small face, short legs, and a short, thick tail. This species is the largest of the New World porcupines and is the second largest rodent endemic to North America, after the American beaver (the Lesser capybara, which is larger, does range into North American Panama, but mostly occurs in South America). The head-and-body length is 60 to 90 cm (2.0 to 3.0 ft), not counting a tail of 14.5 to 30 cm (5.7 to 11.8 in). The hind foot length is 7.5 to 9.1 cm (3.0 to 3.6 in). Weight can range from 3.5 to 18 kg (7.7 to 39.7 lb). Weight in adult females can average some 7 kg (15 lb) while 5 wild-caught males averaged 10.67 kg (23.5 lb). The porcupine, the wolverine, and the skunk are North American mammals that have strongly contrasting black-and-white coloration, which benefits them by letting other animals know where and what they are in the dark of night. The coloration of E. dorsatum generally does not vary. However in the Pacific Northwest, members of the E. d. epixanthum subspecies have been found with a recognizable yellow coloration to their quills. The porcupines found with this distinct coloration did not have albinism and the eyes and nose had their typical pigmentation, they are believed to be isabelline in terms of coloration.