The inhabitant of the New World is a porcupine tree

The needle-coat or the porcupine (photo of the animal can be seen in this article) belongs to the detachment of rodents from the family of mammals. There are 4 genera, which according to one data unite 12 species, and in others - 23. The main part of the species lives in South America, from northern Argentina to Ecuador and Mexico. There they appeared in the Oligocene period. In North America, only one species is distributed - the porkupin, who lives there from the end of the Pliocene.

An animal, a porcupine woody, depending on the species, refers to medium or large rodents. The length of the body varies from 45 to 90 cm, and the weight can reach 18 kg. His massive body is covered with a rather thick hairline, on the tail turning into a bristle. Sharp needles are located in the tail part and on the back of the animal, their length can be from 2.5 to 11 cm. Porcupine wood has a long and tenacious tail.

Inhabitants in the forest areas of the tropical and temperate zones live. Perfectly adapted to life on trees. They are excellent, albeit slowly, they climb on them, some species arrange their nests in hollows. Others settle in crevices of rocks or at the roots of large trees. Porcupine wood prefers a solitary life, although under certain circumstances he may allow a guest to stay for a temporary stay.

The activity of these animals mainly occurs at night and twilight. In cold weather, they prefer to sit in their nests. It feeds on the porcupine wood bark, leaves, needles of coniferous trees, various roots, fruits, sprouts and flowers. Forage they are able to climb a tree 18 meters high. They are hunting for them by different predators, they may be foxes, wolves with coyotes, lynxes, bears, but the main enemy for them is the family of cunies. When a porcupine tree is attacked, it begins to bite and tries to prick a predator with its needles. And they cause painful and inflamed wounds.

The intensity of reproduction in needle-tailed tails is quite low. In a year from one female only one calve is born, but it is large and well developed. Small porcupines are born with open eyes and already developed hairline. They are immediately able to follow the mother and even climb trees. During the first year of the baby's life, his hair gradually changes to needles. The female becomes very aggressive during this period, she at the slightest danger not only releases her needles, but also begins to scratch, beat her opponent with her strong tail with jagged needles.

For a long life these animals can not boast, they live only three years. And this is the case if they are not attacked by a predator or a person. The fact is that meat of a wooden porcupine is loved not only by the beasts, but also by the locals. No appreciable harm to the needle bar is caused. The damage that he can cause is damage, or rather, in the ringing of trees. Occasionally, he can go to the farmer's fields for grains, but he will more grind than eat. These animals are very fond of salt and can gnaw through the wall in a person's tent to find there fat or any other traces of salt, even the sweaty clothes of a person will go into play. At first glance, a wooden porcupine may seem awkward, but it should not be underestimated. A clumsy animal is really very smart. For example, scientists have to try very hard to replace batteries on the collar-mounted transmitters. To do this, they mask the cells well in the foliage and lay bait in them. But these cunning people somehow recognize the deception and ignore even the juicy apples laid out there.