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Porcupines have needles to protect themselves. Predators do not want to be stuck with the needles so they avoid hunting and eat this animal.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoPorcupine quills are hard to remove because they have backward-facing barbs that get caught when the quills are being pulled out.
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Do porcupines have spines?
i think so; otherwise the quills would not hold on
How do animals eat porcupines?
some porcupines have quills on their nose but some dont so animals eat em by the nose.
What are porcupines?
a family of a porcupine is another porcupine
Can porcupines shoot their quills at people?
no, that is a myth.The quills are very loosely attached to the skin, so the slightest touch will make them come off the porcupine and stick into you.
Why are porcupine quills so important to porcupines?
I think it serves as they're protection against predators.
How did the Native Americans use porcupines?
Porcupines are edible rodents, although there is little evidence for them forming a regular part of the diet of the more northerly eastern woodlands tribes (porcupines were not found south of Ohio, for example). The Iroquois tribes appear not to have used the quills either, so they seem to have made no use at all of these animals. The quills and guard hairs were highly valued by the many Algonquian tribes for use in decorating clothing and bark containers and for roach hair ornaments. Quillwork was a very lengthy and complex process that involved carefully plucking the quills from the dead animal, selecting quills about 2.5 inches long (or shorter ones for very delicate designs), dyeing the quills with subtle, natural plant dyes in hot water and then drying them. Then they were washed thoroughly in a soapy bath to make them soft and pliable - then they were flattened between the teeth or fingernails. Only then could the dyed quills be used in wrapping, braiding, sewing or weaving on the surface to be decorated - moccasins, weapons, dresses, shirts, leggings and so on.
Can porcupines shoot quills?
No. The quills do loosen with time and can fall out on their own - just as our hair does everyday. On rare occassions, loose quills can fly off when a porcupine flicks its tail, but the porcupine doesn't know that the quill will come off and has no control over where they go. No, porcupines can't throw their quills. But they have a tiny barb--like a fishhook--at the end of each quill, so if a dog or other animal tries to bite them, the barb can hook into the dog and when the dog pulls away, the quill is pulled out of the porcupine and stays stuck in the dog's muzzle or mouth. Do NOT try to pull out the quills! (If you do try to, the barb will tear the dog's flesh.) Since the quills tend to work their way deeper into the dog's flesh and can cause infections, a trip to the vet is called for. The vet will anesthetize the dog and cut out the quills. After being quilled, a dog should be kept indoors during morning and evening twilight, since he/she is likely to seek out porcupines (presumably to get even!)
Why do porcupines have sharp quills?
No. The quills do loosen with time and can fall out on their own - just as our hair does everyday. On rare occassions, loose quills can fly off when a porcupine flicks its tail, but the porcupine doesn't know that the quill will come off and has no control over where they go. No, porcupines can't throw their quills. But they have a tiny barb--like a fishhook--at the end of each quill, so if a dog or other animal tries to bite them, the barb can hook into the dog and when the dog pulls away, the quill is pulled out of the porcupine and stays stuck in the dog's muzzle or mouth. Do NOT try to pull out the quills! (If you do try to, the barb will tear the dog's flesh.) Since the quills tend to work their way deeper into the dog's flesh and can cause infections, a trip to the vet is called for. The vet will anesthetize the dog and cut out the quills. After being quilled, a dog should be kept indoors during morning and evening twilight, since he/she is likely to seek out porcupines (presumably to get even!)
Do hedgehogs shed their quills?
Yes. An adult hedgehog typically has anywhere near 6,000 quills. However, these are much different from Porcupine quills. While they are still modified hairs, hedgehog quills are not barbed, venomous, nor can they be projected at a victim.
What is the pain of a porcupine sting?
imagine being stung by 1000 bees all at the same time
What do hedgehogs and rhinos have in common?
Hedgehogs and Porcupines literally have little to nothing in common.They are not related, and the only thing that associates the two are quills.However, there is a large difference between the two even so. A porcupines' quills are extremely sharp, and barbed - that makes them difficult to get out of the victims skin (as the barbs easily detach once stuck into something else, i.e. a victims skin). But a hedgehogs' quills are MUCH duller, and are NOT barbed - and are not dangerous.
How are Hedgehogs different to echidnas?
One of the major differences between porcupines, hedgehogs and echidnas concerns the quills. A porcupine's quills are extremely sharp and barbed - and very dangerous. They detach easily when they have been embedded into the victim's skin. They are not venomous, but can certainly cause infection.A hedgehog's quills (compared to a porcupine's) are very dull and are NOT barbed - not dangerous at all.An echidna's quills are sharp, but unlikely to cause infection - just a lot of pain.The defence mechanisms of hedgehogs, echidnas and porcupines vary tremendously. Hedgehogs roll up into a ball for protection. Echidnas may roll up, though not into as tight a ball as a hedgehog, or they may dig straight down, horizontally, into the ground so that while they are digging, only their quills are exposed. Porcupines arch their back, which has the effect of making the quills stand straight up. They have strong, armoured tails which they thrash about to hit a potential predator. Once their barbs embed in the skin of their attacker, they expand, forcing the quill deeper into the attacker's flesh.Other points:One species of hedgehogs has been domesticated. Neither porcupines nor echidnas are domesticated.Porcupines are larger than echidnas, which are larger than hedgehogs.Hedgehogs have around 3000 - 7000 quills which average 2.5cm in length; porcupines have around 30,000 quills which average 5cm in length.Hedgehogs are often favoured by gardeners because they eat slugs and other garden pests. Porcupines eat the actual vegetation, including flower buds and leaves. Echdinas feed almost exclusively on termites and ants.Hedgehogs hibernate during winter; porcupines and echidnas do not.Wild porcupines are found in North and South America, Africa and Asia. Wild hedgehogs are found in Africa, Europe and Asia. Echidnas are found in Australia and on the island of New Guinea.
