The inhabitant of the New World is a porcupine tree

Needle coat or wood porcupine (photo of an animalyou can see in this article) refers to the detachment of rodents from the family of mammals. There are 4 genera, which according to one data unite 12 species, and on the other - 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 is a porcupine tree, depending on the speciesrefers 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 dense scalp, 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 of needle-tails in forest areas of tropical andof the temperate zone. 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 solitary life, although under certain circumstances he may allow a guest to stay for a temporary stay.

The activity of these animals is mainlynight and twilight. In cold weather, they prefer to sit out in their nests. It feeds on the porcupine wood bark, leaves, needles of coniferous trees, various roots, fruits, sprouts and flowers. They can climb a tree 18 m high. They are hunted by various predators, they can 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 inflict quite painful and inflamed wounds.

The intensity of reproduction in pintails is quitelow. In a year from one female only one calve is born, but it is large and well developed. Little 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 the opponent with her strong tail with jagged needles.

Long life these animals do not boastcan, 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 beasts, but also by local residents. No appreciable damage to the needle bar is caused. The damage that it 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 it. 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 clothing of a person will go into play. At first glance, a wooden porcupine may seem awkward, but do not underestimate it. A clumsy animal is really very smart. For example, scientists have to try very hard to replace the batteries on the collar-mounted transmitters. To do this, they mask the cells well in the foliage and lay out the bait in them. But these cunning people somehow recognize the deception and ignore even the juicy apples laid out there.