Erethizon dorsatum

• Main Authors: Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, Russell A. Mittermeier
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2016
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Rodentia; Erethizontidae; Erethizon; Erethizon dorsatum; Canada; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/6603144; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6603144

2. North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum French: Porc-épic dAmérique / German: Nordamerikanischer Baumstachler / Spanish: Puercoespin de Norteameérica Other common names: Quiller, Quill Pig Taxonomy. Hystrix dorsata Linnaeus, 1758, “Habitat in Canada.” Seven subspecies are recognized. Subspecies and Distribution. E.d.dorsatumLinnaeus,1758—CanadaEofYukonTerritoryandBritishColumbiaProvince(exceptLabradorandNewfoundlandProvince)andNC&NEUSA. E.d.bruneriSwenk,1916—CUSA(GreatPlainsEoftheRockyMts). E.d.couesiMearns,1897—SWUSA(CArizona,NewMexico,andWTexasstates)andNMexico(Sonora,Chihuahua,Coahuila,NuevoLeon,Tamaulipas,NSinaloa,andNDurangostates). E.d.epixanthumBrandt,1835—WUSA(SWashingtonStateEtoIdaho,Montana.Wyoming,Nevada,Utah,WColorado,andStoCaliforniastates). E.d.myopsMerriam,1900—AlaskaandtheYukonTerritoryinNWCanada. E.d.nagriscensJ.A.Allen,1903—WCanada(BritishColumbiaProvince)andNWUSA(NWashingtonState). E. d. picinum Bangs, 1900 — NE Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador Province). Descriptive notes. Head—body 600-1300 mm, tail 160-250 mm, hindfoot 75-110 mm; weight 5-12 kg. The North American Porcupine is the largest member of the family Erethizontidae. Robust with round bodies and relatively short legs, North American Porcupines generally appear blackish, reddish, brownish, or yellowish at a distance; thick underfur and long guard hairs conceal many of defensive quills. Tail is short, with tail length ¢.31% of head-body length. Head and body are well protected by ¢.30,000 defensive quills that are distributed everywhere except on venter, inner limbs, face, and ears and are ¢.20-100 mm long. Quills are bicolored, creamy white or yellowish at bases with black tips, resulting in aposematic coloration when quills rest against the body. Quills are composed of keratin proteins fabricated during quill growth into a cylindrical outer shell with an interior foam core, and tips are barbed,as is the case for most defensive quills in erethizontids. Head of the Northern American Porcupine is small and round with a ...