Porcupine, Alaska, USA

© Design Pics/Danita Delimon

Info. Porcupine

Porcupines are large rodents divided into two groups: Old World porcupines live in Europe, Africa and Asia, while New World porcupines inhabit forests and wooded areas across North America and northern South America. The prickly animal you can see today was photographed in Alaska, USA, so is part of the New World family. These porcupines are good climbers and spend much of their time in trees.

Porcupines are best known for their coat of sharp spines, or quills, which help protect them against predators. This porcupine has as many as 30,000 quills that cover most of its body. Contrary to popular belief, porcupines can't shoot their quills like darts.