Porcupine News

science3 hours ago•6 min saved

Porcupine Punctures Python: A Deadly Dinner in South Africa

A 12-foot African rock python at Lake Eland Game Reserve in South Africa died about a week after swallowing a 30-pound porcupine, whose sharp quills punctured the snake’s digestive tract. The 2015 incident shows porcupines can be a dangerous prey for snakes, which can swallow large meals but may be fatally injured by quills; prior studies have documented similar injuries, and newer research discusses how snakes digest bones under certain conditions.

via A-Z Animals|

#lake-eland-game-reserve #porcupine #python

paleontology2 years ago•7 min saved

"Ancient Florida Fossil Reveals 10-Million-Year-Old Porcupine Mystery"

A nearly complete porcupine skeleton found in Florida has helped resolve a long-standing debate about the evolutionary history of North American porcupines. The study, published in Current Biology, reveals that these porcupines have a complex ancestry that likely began before the formation of the Isthmus of Panama. The fossil shows traits of both North and South American porcupines, suggesting a more intricate evolutionary path than previously thought.

via Phys.org|

#evolution #fossil #north-america

naturewildlife2 years ago•1 min saved

Snake's Failed Attempt to Eat Porcupine Captured in Israel Photo

A non-venomous black snake in Israel attempted to eat a porcupine but ended up dying along with its spiky prey. The snake's attempt to rid itself of the porcupine failed due to the one-way direction of the quills, resulting in both animals perishing. The incident occurred near a dog park in the community of Shoham, and an ecologist suggested that the snake realized its mistake too late. Israel is home to 41 snake species and three species of porcupines.

via Yahoo! Voices|

#animal-behavior #ecologist #israel

naturewildlife2 years ago•1 min saved

Snake's Failed Attempt to Eat Porcupine Captured in Israel Photo

A non-venomous black snake in Israel attempted to eat a porcupine but ended up dying along with its spiky prey. The snake's attempt to rid itself of the porcupine failed due to the one-way direction of the quills, resulting in both animals perishing. The incident occurred near a dog park in the community of Shoham, and an ecologist suggested that the snake realized its mistake too late. Israel is home to 41 snake species and three species of porcupines.

via Yahoo News|

#animal-behavior #ecologist #israel