Parrotfish

Parrotfishes are a group of about 90 species traditionally regarded as a family (Scaridae), but now often considered a subfamily (Scarinae) of the wrasses. They are found in relatively shallow tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, displaying their largest species richness in the Indo-Pacific. They are found in coral reefs, rocky coasts, and seagrass beds, and play a significant role in bioerosion.

Traditionally, the parrotfishes have been considered a family level taxon, Scaridae. Although phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis of parrotfishes is ongoing, they are now accepted to be a clade in the tribe Cheilini, and are now commonly referred to as scarine labrids (subfamily Scarinae, family Labridae). Some authorities have preferred to maintain the parrotfishes as a family-level taxon, resulting in Labridae not being monophyletic (unless split into several families).

Parrotfish are named for their dentition, which also is distinct from that of other labrids. Their numerous teeth are arranged in a tightly packed mosaic on the external surface of their jaw bones, forming a parrot-like beak with which they rasp algae from coral and other rocky substrates. Maximum sizes vary within the family, with the majority of species reaching 30-50 cm (12-20 in) in length. However, a few species reach lengths in excess of 1 m (3 ft 3 in), and the green humphead parrotfish can reach up to 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in).
 

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A number of parrotfish species, including the queen parrotfish (Scarus vetula), secrete a mucus cocoon, particularly at night. Prior to going to sleep, some species extrude mucus from their mouths, forming a protective cocoon that envelops the fish, presumably hiding its scent from potential predators. This mucus envelope may also act as an early warning system, allowing the parrotfish to flee when it detects predators such as moray eels disturbing the membrane.
 

Although they are considered to be herbivores, parrotfish eat a wide variety of reef organisms, and they are not necessarily vegetarian. Species such as the green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) include coral (polyps) in their diets. Their feeding activity is important for the production and distribution of coral sands in the reef biome, and can prevent algae from choking coral. The teeth grow continuously, replacing material worn away by feeding.

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Lionfish

Lionfish are known to devour many aquarium fish. Pterois are unusual in that they are among the few species successfully establish populations in open marine systems. Extreme temperatures are geographically restricted distribution in aquatic species, indicating that tolerance to temperature plays a role in survival of lionfish range, reproduction and distribution. Pterois stretched along the east coast of the United States and employs thermal appropriate areas within ten years.

Lion parasites are rarely seen and rarely thought. Lionfish are known for their poisonous rays, a feature that is common among marine fish in the coral reefs of the east coast. Severe allergic reactions to poison Pterois are typically chest pain, severe shortness of breath, a fall in blood pressure, swelling of the tongue, sweating, runny nose or clear speechThe lion is a predator comes from the Indo-Pacific. The aggressive prey on small fish and invertebrates. Lionfish take a hostile attitude and are territorial towards other reef fish.

 

It is said that this introduction can be caused when Hurricane Andrew in an aquarium in south Florida destroyed, also believed to six lions were accidentally released in Biscayne Bay, Florida after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The capture of lionfish first document in the Atlantic came in Dania Beach, Florida. In 2001, NOAA documented several sightings of lionfish off the coast of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Bermuda and the Bahamas were discovered in 2004.

Pterois volitans and Pterois miles are from tropical and subtropical regions of southern Japan and South Korea to the east coast of Australia, Indonesia, Micronesia, French Polynesia and the South Pacific lionfish Champions adults found along the east coast States of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Florida, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean, including Turks and Caicos, Haiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, Belize, Honduras and Mexico. Population is growing in invaded areas, resulting population explosion of up to 700% in some areas between 2004 and 2008. 

 

 

Although the timeline of observation points on the east coast of Florida, as the original source of the invasion of the western Atlantic Ocean, the relationship between the U.S. East Coast and invasion of lionfish is uncertain Bahamas The population density of the invasive lionfish rise very rapidly, and we are working in diverse fields to check. A study in 2010 with the population data modeling collected using the known history of life lionfish inhabit coral reefs in the Caribbean to find the best way to eradicate. The study has shown that the most effective way to maintain uniform current density lion population, at least 27% of the adult population should be killed monthly invasive.

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Jaguar

The jaguar is the largest feline on the American continent, with jaguars also being the third biggest cat in the world behind the African lion and the Asian tiger. Jaguars have the strongest bite force of all the cats and like other pantherines they can roar. The jaguar is indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. Jaguars inhabit the tropical rainforest's of South America with the elusive jaguar spending a great deal of its time asleep in the trees or hunting in dense undergrowth. However, due to the habitat loss within this jaguar kingdom, the jaguar population numbers are declining making jaguars an endangered species.

Jaguars have a similar rosetting pattern to a leopard, but the jaguar has a much heavier and sturdier build. Jaguars hold the reputation for being very aggressive, though attacks on humans have historically been rare. Undoubtedly a strikingly beautiful animal, the jaguar has caught the attention of scientists and hunters alike, with many jaguar individuals having been poached for their distinctively patterned fur. Black jaguars occur from time to time. In jaguars the black colouration is a simple dominant gene. Two black jaguars can produce a lighter spotted cub in a litter of blacks. As with black leopards, you can see the spotting as black on black in strong sunlight.

Jaguars tend to prefer thick, dense, moist jungle where the jaguar has plenty of cover in order to successfully hunt and the ambush prey. Although this is the case, jaguars appear to be fairly adaptable animals and jaguars have been known to reside in reed thickets, shrub land and swamps. A jaguar was found in the desert region of southern Arizona a couple of years ago. The highest concentration of jaguars is today found around the Amazon Basin, where there is plenty of food, water and shelter for the jaguar to live undisturbed.

Although jaguar cubs are generally born between the months of December and March, it is not uncommon for jaguar cubs to be born throughout the year. Female jaguars typically give birth to two or three jaguar cubs. In mating season, the female jaguar will use loud vocal calls to attract a male jaguar into her territory. Once the jaguar cubs are born however, the female jaguar will not tolerate the male jaguar in her territory as the female jaguar becomes very protective of her cubs at this stage. Jaguar cubs are born blind and gain their sight after about two weeks.
 

Jaguar populations are rapidly declining. The animal is considered Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, meaning it may be threatened with extinction in the near future. The loss of parts of its range, including its virtual elimination from its historic northern areas and the increasing fragmentation of the remaining range, have contributed to this status.

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Impala

The impala is one of the many species of antelope that is found inhabiting the African wilderness. The impala is a medium-sized antelope that is primarily found in the savannas and thicker bush-land in the more southern parts of the African continent. The male impala are well-known for their curved horns that are able to reach lengths of around 90 cm hats bigger than the average impala individual.

 

 

The male impala are known as rams, mainly due to the fact that the male impala use their horns when defending themselves both from other dominant male impala and from oncoming predators. The female impala do not have horns at all and they are known as ewes. The impala is thought to be one of the most adaptable animals living in the African savanna, as the impala is able to change its eating habits with the seasons and depending on what is available in the near surroundings.

 

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Impala like to graze on fresh grass but will also nibble on shoots and foliage when there is no grass growing nearby. The impala has many natural predators in the tough African landscape that include leopards, lions, cheetahs, crocodiles and hyenas. The impala though has a remarkable response when it feels threatened as the impala is able to jump over nine meters in distance and over two meters high.
 

The impala is thought to do this in order to confuse its predators. The average impala individual, lives for around 12 years in the wild although this varies a great deal as the impala is such substantial prey to many of the carnivorous African predators. Some impala individuals that have been bred in captivity have been known to get to more than 20 years old.

 

The impala a typical ecotone species, inhabits savanna grasslands and woodlands close to water sources. They show a preference for acacia savannas for their nutritious grasses and browse in the dry season. While they inhabit Acacia senegal woodlands in the wet season, they prefer A. drepanolobium savannas in the dry season. Impala in southern Africa have been found to be associated with Colophospermum mopane woodlands.

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King Vulture

The King Vulture is the largest of the New World vultures. A majestic king vultures bird adult plumage is mainly white, with a touch of pink and yellow for him. By contrast, wing coverts, flight feathers and tail are dark gray to black, and the first floor of the flange thickness. The head and neck are free of feathers, skin tones of red and purple on the head, neck and throat bright yellow orange. King Vulture has the largest skull and skull into account and New World vultures.

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The bird has broad wings and short tail, broad and square. Unlike some missing eyelashes king vulture. The vulture is little sexual dimorphism, with no differences in plumage and a little in size between males and females. The young vulture beak and dark eyes and a soft, gray neck, orange before becoming an adult. Young vultures are a slate gray complex, although similar in appearance to adults.
 

The last stages immature black feathers on the wings scattered white blankets otherwise their children. The head and neck are vulture feathers as an adaptation for hygiene, good black hair on the sides of the head, this lack of feathers prevents bacteria feed the springs of the channel and causes skin damage from sterilizing effects of Sun Dark plumage immature birds may be confused with C. aura, but flies with wings of feathers smooth, pale, while adults are quite realistic confused with the stork, but outside of its long neck and legs allow easy recognition

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King Vulture live about 14 million km2 (5.4 million MI2) between southern Mexico and northern Argentina. In South America, living in the western Andes, except in the western part of Ecuador, Colombia to the northwest and northwest Venezuela. Lives mostly intact lowland tropical forests and savannas and grasslands with these forests nearby.

This bird is often the most numerous vulture or primary lowland forests in its range, but the Amazon is the great Head of Eagle outnumbered usually yellow, while usually outnumbered by the Lesser Yellow header, Turkey Vulture and open environments. King Vulture effortless flight hours, and often exceeds their wings. During the flight, the wings are flat with slightly raised tips by far the vulture flight may appear headless.

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Arctic Hare

The arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) or polar rabbit, is a species of hare which is adapted largely to polar and mountainous habitats. The arctic hare survives with a thick coat of fur and usually digs holes in the ground or under snow to keep warm and sleep. Arctic hares look like rabbits but have shorter ears, are taller when standing, and, unlike rabbits, can thrive in cold climates.

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They can travel together with many other hares, sometimes huddling with dozens or more, but are usually found alone, taking, in some cases, more than one partner. The arctic hare can run up to 60 kilometres per hour (40 mph). Its predators include the arctic wolf, arctic fox, and ermine. The arctic hare is distributed over the tundra regions of Greenland and the northernmost parts of Canada, while they also live as far south as the Island of Newfoundland In Newfoundland and southern Labrador.

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The arctic hare changes its coat colour, moulting and growing new fur, from brown or grey in the summer to white in the winter, like some other arctic animals including ermine and ptarmigan, enabling it to remain camouflaged as their environments change. However, the arctic hares in the far north of Canada, where summer is very short, remain white all year round.

The arctic hare is one of the largest living lagomorphs. On average, this species measures from 43 to 70 cm (17 to 28 in) long, not counting a tail length of 4.5-10 cm (1.8-3.9 in). The body mass of this species is typically between 2.5-5.5 kg (6-12 lb), though large individuals can weigh up to 7 kg (15 lb). The arctic hare's diet consists primarily of woody plants, but can also include buds, berries, leaves, and grasses. In the early summer it consumes purple saxifrage.

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It has a keen sense of smell and may dig for willow twigs under the snow. When foraging for plants, the arctic hare prefers spots with less snow so it may more easily locate fallen twigs or plants on the ground for it to feed on. Female hares can have up to eight baby hares called leverets. The leverets stay within the mother's home range until they are old enough to survive on their own. Their life spans average 5 years if they are not killed by their predators or do not die of unnatural causes.

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Great Blue Heron

It is the largest North American heron herons and among all existing, surpassed only by the Goliath heron and white-bellied heron. Head-to-tail length of 91-137 cm (36-54 inches), with a magnitude of 167-201 cm (66-79 inches), a height of 115-138 cm (45-54 inches) and a weight 2, 1 to 3.6 kg (4.6 to 7.9 pounds). Notable features include slate flight feathers, red-brown, red-brown thighs, and a band of black couple and sides, the neck is rusty gray, with black and white stripes on the front, the head is almost white pale face, and a pair of black feathers vary from just above the eye to the back of the head.
 

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Immature birds are duller in color, with a dull blackish-gray crown, and the pattern of side weakly defined, without feathers, and the bill is dull gray-yellow. Heron step is about 22 cm (9 inches), almost straight. The subspecies differ only slightly in size and plumage tone, with the exception of subspecies occidentalis, which as normal colored birds, also has a separate white phase, known as the Grand White Heron (not to be confused with the Great Egret, for "Great White Heron" was once a common name).
 

Intermediate between Birds normal and white morph morph are known as Heron Wurdemann, these birds look like a blue "normal" Excellent bald. The Great Blue Heron is found throughout most of North America, as far north as Alaska and the southern provinces of Canada. The range extends south through Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean South America. Birds east of the Rocky Mountains in the northern part of their range are migratory and winter in northern Central America and South America.
 

The Great Blue Heron can be adapted to almost any wetland habitat in its range. Great Blue Heron rarely venture away from streams, but sometimes seen flying over mountainous areas. This species usually breeds in colonies in trees close to lakes or other wetlands. Often, these colonies are only great blue herons, sometimes with other species of herons nest. These groups are called colonies (a more precise term "colony").
 

The size of these colonies can be large, between 5-500 nests per colony, with an average of approximately 160 nests per colony. Great Blue Herons build a bulky stick nest, and the female lays 3-6 eggs blue. Repeated human intrusion into nesting areas often results in nest failure, with abandonment of eggs or chicks. Both parents feed the young in the nest by regurgitating food. Predators of eggs and chicks are vultures, hawks and crows, raccoons, bears different, the latter two also potential predators of adults.

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Saltwater Crocodile

The saltwater crocodile is one of the three crocodiles in India, the other two are the most common, mugger crocodile and less narrow snout, fish eating Gharial. In addition to the east coast of India, is the saltwater crocodile is extremely rare in the Indian subcontinent. A huge population of saltwater crocodiles (consisting of many large adults, including a 7 meter male) is located inside the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary of Orissa and they are known for.

 

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In northern Italy (contains the northernmost regions of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland) the Saltwater Crocodile is thriving, particularly in the basins closer to Darwin (as Adelaide, Mary and Daly Rivers, along with their billabong and adjacent estuaries) where large (six-meter +) individuals are not uncommon. The population of saltwater crocodiles in Australia estimated anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 adults.

 

In Australia, the species with the smaller freshwater crocodile or Johnston muzzle close co-exist. Alligator Rivers Region Arnhem Land is the similarity of the Saltwater Crocodile Alligator misleading freshwater crocodiles, which also inhabit the Northern Territory respect. There are overlapping area with Guinea crocodile rarer, less aggressive New. The saltwater crocodile was historically found in South-East Asia, but is now extinct in much of this area.

 

Probably the only country in Indochina still harbors wild populations of this species is Myanmar. Despite the proximity to the crocodile hot-bed of northern Australia, crocodiles no longer exist in Bali. A small population in Ujung Kulon National Park remain in West Java. The saltwater crocodile is also very limited in parts of the South Pacific, with an average population in the Solomon Islands, a very small population, and soon in Vanuatu (where the population is officially only three) (extinct and decent, but the population at risk may rebounds) in Palau.

 

Saltwater crocodiles once ranged as far west as the east coast of Africa, the Seychelles. These crocodiles once believed to be a population of Nile crocodiles, but were later proven to be Crocodylus porosus. Because of their tendency to travel long distances at sea, individual saltwater crocodiles occasionally occur in areas that are not indigenous. In late 2008 and early 2009, a handful of wild saltwater crocodiles are been verified reported in the Fraser River systems Iceland, hundreds of miles live by, and the water is much colder than its Queensland range normally.

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Atlantic Puffin

The Atlantic Puffin is 26-29 cm (10-11 inches) in length (cm Bill 3-4) with a 47-63 cm (19-25 in) wingspan. This bird is mainly black above and white below, with gray to white cheeks and red-orange legs. Features bright Orange bill plates grow before the breeding season and autumn, after the reading. The Horned Puffin on (Fratercula corniculata) from the North Pacific is very similar, but slightly different head ornaments.

 

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The Atlantic Puffin is typically silent at sea, except for soft purring sounds it sometimes makes in flight. In breeding colonies, it is the most common call is a trisyllabic KAA-AAR-aar, while birds make a short growl when startled. This species breeds on the coasts of northern Europe, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and North America, the Arctic Circle to northern France and Maine.

 

Approximately 95% of puffins in North America breed around the coast of Newfoundland. The largest puffin colony in the western Atlantic (estimated at more than 260,000 pairs) can be found at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, south of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Puffin viewing has also started to become popular in Elliston Newfoundland, previously named Bird Island Cove, located near Trinity.

Predators Puffin include the Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), the Great Skua (Stercorarius skua), and species of similar size, which can take a puffin in flight, or choose from a separate colony. Smaller species, such as gulls Herring Gull (L. argentatus) which are hardly able to get a healthy adult puffin, take eggs or newly hatched chicks, and even flying fish.

Species may face competition from other animals nesting burrows, such as rabbits, Manx shearwaters and sometimes penguin. The only time spent on land is nest colleagues before arriving in the colonies, and in the sea coupling. The breeding season is normally puffins in the summer, eggs are laid in June and July. Synchronous spawning is in Puffins in adjacent burrows. In the Faroe Islands, for example, birds may be hunted for local consumption after the breeding season, when excess birds available.

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Giant Squid

The giant squid is the second largest mollusc and is the second largest of all invertebrates. Some extinct cephalopods, such as Tusoteuthis vampyromorphid the Cretaceous, Cretaceous and Ordovician coleoids Yezoteuthis Cameroceras Nautiloid could do more. Giant squid size, the total length of all, it has often been exaggerated. According to giant squid expert Steve O'Shea, such lengths were likely achieved by stretching the two tentacles like elastic bands.

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Based on the examination of 130 samples and the peaks are inside sperm whales, giant squid mantles "knows not exceed 2.25 m (7.4 ft). Giant squid are sexually dimorphic. The maximum weight is estimated at 275 kg (610 lb) for females and 150 kg (330 lb) for males. Little is known about the reproductive cycle of giant squid. It is believed that they reach sexual maturity at three years, males reach sexual maturity at a smaller size than females.

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Females produce large quantities of eggs, sometimes more than 5 kg (11 lb), which is an average of 0.5 to 1.4 mm (0.020 to 0.055 inches) in length and 0.3 to 0.7 mm (0.012 to 0.028 inch) wide. Females have a median ovary that the rear end of the mantle cavity and associated contours oviducts where mature eggs pass through the oviduct glands and the glands nidamental.

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Men like most other cephalopods, the single testicle produces sperm that later move into a complex system of glands that produce spermatophores. Grip the penis is more than 90 cm (35 inches) long and extends the mantle. Can be transferred in sacs called spermatophores spermatangia, arms male injected into the female. Recent studies have shown food giant squid deep-sea fish and other squid species.

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It is believed that solitary hunters, as only individual giant squid have been caught in fishing nets. Although most giant squid caught by trawl in New Zealand waters have been associated with the local hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) hoki fishery are not included in the diet of squid. This suggests that the giant dam squid and hoki in the same animal giant squid are widespread, occurring in all oceans of the world.

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Canada Goose

The head and neck black, with a "chinstrap" distinguish the Canada goose from all the other white geese, with the exception of the Barnacle Goose, but the second has a breast black and gray, rather than the body brown plumage. There are seven subspecies of this bird, in different sizes and plumage details, but all recognized as Canada geese. Some of the smaller breeds can be difficult to distinguish from the crowd noise small overlap Goose.

 

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However goose chatting generally much smaller, a little 'bigger than Mallard, with a shorter neck and smaller bill. The largest is the subspecies B. c. Maxima or "Giant Canada Goose," and smaller (in common with the group cackling goose) is B. c. parvipes or "lesser Canada goose This specimen is the largest wild goose ever recorded of any kind. Life expectancy in the wild of geese that survive to adulthood including 10-24 years.

Like most geese, the Canada Goose migratory course. The wintering area in the United States more calls head from large groups of Canada Geese in V formation of signal transitions in the spring and autumn. In some areas, migration routes have changed due to changes in habitat and food sources. In the second year of their life in Canada Geese find a mate. The female lays 3-8 eggs and both parents protect the nest while the eggs incubate, but the female spends more time in the nest than the male. The egg predators are known to Arctic foxes coyotes, raccoons, foxes from the north, large gulls, Raven, crows and bears Americans.

 

 

As changes occur during the annual summer breeding season, adults lose their flight feathers on the day 20-40, recovered flight around the same time as you start flying geese The geese are often seen leading goose online, usually a parent in front and one on the back. Although parents are hostile foreign geese may form groups of a number of geese and a few adults, called crèches.

 

In North America, non-migratory Canada goose populations have increased. The species is often found on golf courses, parking lots and parks, the only migratory geese on rare occasions, however. In many areas, non-migratory Canada Geese are now considered pests by humans. It The agency responds to municipalities or private landowners, such as golf courses, the geese obtrusive or object to their waste. Nests Addling goose eggs are destroyed and as a method of birth control for people promoted Geese have a tendency to attack humans when they feel threatened themselves or their goslings.

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Coyote

The coyote also known as the American jackal, brush wolf, or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States, and Canada. It occurs as far north as Alaska and all but the northernmost portions of Canada. The term is also used for the eastern coyote (Canis latrans var.), which contains not only C. latrans but also significant percentages of Canis lupus lycaon ancestry.

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Currently, 19 subspecies are recognized, with 16 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and three in Central America. Unlike the related gray wolf, which is Eurasian in origin, evolutionary theory suggests the coyote evolved in North America during the Pleistocene epoch 1.8 million years ago (mya), alongside the dire wolf. Although not closely related, the coyote evolved separately to fill roughly the same ecological niche in the Americas that is filled in Eurasia and Africa by the similarly sized jackals.

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Unlike the wolf, the coyote's range has expanded in the wake of human civilization, and coyotes readily reproduce in metropolitan areas. The color of the coyote's pelt varies from grayish-brown to yellowish-gray on the upper parts, while the throat and belly tend to have a buff or white color. The forelegs, sides of the head, muzzle and paws are reddish-brown. The back has tawny-colored underfur and long, black-tipped guard hairs that form a black dorsal stripe and a dark cross on the shoulder area.

Female coyotes are monoestrous, and remain in estrus for two to five days between late January and early March, during which mating occurs. Once the female chooses a partner, the mated pair may remain temporarily monogamous for a number of years. Coyotes also practice alloparental care, in which a coyote pair adopts the pup or pups of another pair. This might take place if the original parents die or are for some reason separated from them. This behavior is common and is seen in many other animal species.

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Sometimes labelled as carnivores but more often as omnivores, coyotes are opportunistic, versatile feeders. They eat small mammals such as (depending on the region in which it lives) voles, prairie dogs, eastern cottontails, ground squirrels, mice, birds, snakes, lizards, deer, javelina, and livestock, as well as insects and other invertebrates. The coyote will also target any species of bird that nests on the ground.

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Porcupine

Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, Southern Asia, Europe, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about 25-36 in (64-91 cm) long, with an 8-10 in (20-25 cm) long tail. Weighing 12-35 lb (5.4-15.9 kg), they are rounded, large and slow. Porcupines come in various shades of brown, gray, and the unusual white.

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Porcupines spiny protection resembles that of the unrelated erinaceomorph hedgehogs and monotreme echidnas. The common porcupine is a herbivore. It eats leaves, herbs, twigs and green plants like clover and in the winter it may eat bark. The North American porcupine often climbs trees to find food. The African porcupine is not a climber and forages on the ground. It is mostly nocturnal, but will sometimes forage for food in the day. Porcupines have become a pest in Kenya and are eaten as a delicacy.

A male porcupine urinates on a female porcupine prior to mating, spraying the urine at high velocity. The name porcupine comes from Middle French porc espin (spined pig). A regional American name for the animal is quill pig. A porcupine is any of 29 species of rodent belonging to the families Erethizontidae (genera: Coendou, Sphiggurus, Erethizon, Echinoprocta, and Chaetomys) or Hystricidae (genera: Atherurus, Hystrix, and Trichys).

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Porcupines vary in size considerably: Rothschild's Porcupine of South America weighs less than a kilogram (2.2 lb); the Crested porcupine found in Italy, Sicily, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa can grow to well over 27 kg (60 lb). The two families of porcupines are quite different, and although both belong to the Hystricognathi branch of the vast order Rodentia, they are not closely related.

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The two subfamilies of New World porcupines are mostly smaller (although the North American Porcupine reaches about 85 cm or 33 in in length and 18 kg or 40 lb), have their quills attached singly rather than grouped in clusters, and are excellent climbers, spending much of their time in trees. The New World porcupines evolved their spines independently (through convergent evolution) and are more closely related to several other families of rodent than they are to the Old World porcupines.

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