THE BIOLOGY AND LIFE HISTORY OF THE PORCUPINE (ERETHIZON DORSATUM) IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

Abstract

In comparison to many of our common North American mammals, very little is known of the porcupine Erethizon dorsatum, although it is present over a large part of the United States, Canada, and parts of Alaska. It is one of the largest hystricomorph rodents, being related to the agouti, guinea pig, and other South American forms, including porcupines having prehensile tails (Coendou). The porcupine is the only member of the monotypic genus Erethizon but includes seven described subspecies (Anderson and Rand 1943; Miller and Kellog 1955) all occurring only on the North American Continent.