Which body part of a porcupine is poisonous?
Porcupines are a widespread group of animals that inhabit almost every continent in the world except for Antarctica. They are divided into two families, old-world porcupines and new-world porcupines. The new world porcupines are mainly found in North America and some parts of northern South America.
A porcupines’ main defense is the quills, which they use to deter predators. Many people think that porcupine quills are poisonous. The quills of a porcupine are not toxic but can be extremely painful and cause injuries. Also, a porcupine cannot project or shoot out its quills towards the enemy as it was initially believed.
More Info:
northamericannature.com
What are your thoughts on this subject?
24 Comments
Leapy Lee
I’d like to point out that we do NOT have porcupines in Australia, so that part of the explanation is incorrect.
Bob Gorby
Nor are they fastidious. Their quills get greasy, dirty and very possibly germy. They're Neither venomous nor poisonous, but they're Not antiseptic, either!
Ken Putnam
Leapy Lee,
*almost* every continent in the world except for Antarctica
poorly phrased, but correct
Kevin Dale Streets
Ken Putnam, not totally. Australia is a continent too, and there are no porcupines there. The closest thing they have is an echidna.
marijohnross
Ken Putnam, 👍
Russell Ipson
I grew up in Utah, we have Porcupines here. My cousins dog used to get a nose full of quills about once a year (you would think he would learn)! They would start to fester, but as far as I knew they were never poisonous!
Player
This was almost a good question.
Karin Johansson
Carole Vermillion Laffey, the answer is correct!
Karin Johansson
Leapy Lee, the answer is correct!!!!
Susan Lake-Harris
Deborah Koreneff, They are a completely different animal - not part of the rodent family - and look very different in terms of their quill arrangement, body shape (especially around the head and neck area), length of legs, their feet, and their snout. But I suppose if you've never seen one before you might think they were cousins to porcupines.
Susan Lake-Harris
Leapy Lee, I was about to write the same comment!
Irene Townsend
earlepg, There could turn infectious especially if the infected animal cannot get them out, as with all infections it could/maybe/ possibility slowly kill them. Very painful though as you say not poisonous
Char
Made me think wait a minute they hurt if you bother them but that's all.... 😂
seane
Stevie G, they are not poisonous. Painful yes. Infectious possibly.
seane
Carole Vermillion Laffey, they are not poisonous. Painful yes. Many a dog or predator has found out the hard way!
Leapy Lee
Louella Wilson, that doesn’t mean we should entertain ignorance!
John W Shreve
Bob Gorby, Like our fingernails.
earlepg
Stevie G, But the answer is there. Using different words, no parts of a porcupine are poisonous. 7.4% picked one of the named parts, so they must have thought that that part was in some way was poisonous. Additionally, in the explantion it was brought out that the quill were also not poisonous. Some might have thought otherwise Trivial? Certainly. Hopefully new information for some at the least.