The North American porcupine is a species of porcupine in the genus American porcupine in the family American porcupines. Its ancestors crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to Brazil 30 million years ago, and entered North America after the Great Migration of North and South American organisms 3 million years ago. The North American porcupine and skunk are the only two north American mammals whose color is black and white.
It is generally dark brown or black with a white sheen. The body is short and fat, the face is small, the feet are short, and the tail is fat and short. There are spines on the upper body, which are used for defense, and the thorns fall off the body easily. Unless attacked, the thorns are usually laid flat on the body. It also swings its thorny tail at predators for defense. Pups are soft at birth and harden after a few hours.
It is slow and mainly active at night. It generally lives on trees, eating thin branches, rhizomes, bark, fruits and other plants. In the winter will sleep for a long time, but not hibernation. North American porcupines are considered pests because they damage trees and leather objects. Its meat is edible and can be used as a food source for humans.
The American porcupine family, also known as the New World porcupine, has 5 genera: North American porcupine, tree porcupine, spiny porcupine, pile-tailed porcupine, and porcupine. It is very similar in appearance to the Old World porcupine family, but is not very related. Arboreal, individual species have long winding tails. The animals of the American porcupine family are the second largest rodents in North America.