Wednesday, October 3, 2012

It's a porcupette!


 Born September 4, at Chester Zoo, this is Noko, an African Crested Porcupine. 

Porcupine babies, called porcupettes, are born without sharp quills. Instead their spikes are soft and bendable, but they gradually harden after a few days. Quills are used to protect them against predators such as coyotes, bears, dogs, foxes and even humans. Any they lose in the process, grow back!
 
Porcupines are herbivores, feeding mostly on leaves, twigs, herbs, pine needles and thin tree bark, which they remove with their sharp, strong teeth.

Source

3 comments:

Jenny @ The Delightful Momnesiac said...

I've learned something new today!

Julie said...

Hey Jenny,
Thanks for visiting!

World of Animals, Inc said...

What a cutie. Get ahold of them now when they are first born before their quills start to get harder. Thanks for sharing the cute photo. Have a wonderful day.
World of Animals