Which animal is covered with sharp spines?

Which animal is covered with sharp spines?

Porcupines
Porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, that protect them against predation. The term covers two families of animals: the Old World porcupines of family Hystricidae, and the New World porcupines of family Erethizontidae.

Which animal body is covered with long spines?

Which Animals Have Prickly Spines?

• Porcupine. The body of a porcupine is covered with up to 30,000 sharp spines.
• Hedgehog. The hedgehog is a prickly mammal that is covered with brown- and white-colored spines, although its head is also covered with hair.
• Pufferfish.
• Armadillo Lizard.

What are spines on animals?

In a zoological context, spines are hard, needle-like anatomical structures found in both vertebrate and invertebrate species. The spines of most spiny mammals are modified hairs, with a spongy center covered in a thick, hard layer of keratin and a sharp, sometimes barbed tip.

What are spines in animals?

Do all animals have spines?

Mammals are vertebrates, which means that they all have backbones (spines). All mammals, except some sea cows and sloths have seven bones in their necks. This includes giraffes who have VERY long spines! Their necks can be 6 1/2 feet long, but they’re still made up of just seven bones.

What animal has needles?

The porcupine is the prickliest of rodents, though its Latin name means “quill pig.” There are more than two dozen porcupine species, and all boast a coat of needle-like quills to give predators a sharp reminder that this animal is no easy meal.

What animals have horns?

True horns—simple unbranched structures that are never shed—are found in cattle, sheep, goats, and antelopes. They consist of a core of bone surrounded by a layer of horn (keratin) that is in turn covered by keratinized epidermis. The antlers of deer are not horns.

Are hedgehogs quills?

Most mammals have fur or hair that is somewhat flexible and soft. But the hair on the back of a hedgehog is a thick layer of spikes (or modified hairs) known as quills. These quills are made of keratin, the same stuff our hair and fingernails are made of.

What kind of animal has spines on its body?

This little spiny mammal is one of the most popular pets among people out there. Hedgehogs are adorable and tiny, and their small body is covered with up to 7,000 quills. Those spines are part of their defending mechanism which they can raise and lower in different situations.

Why are spiny animals rare in the world?

Spiny animals are a rarity in the animal kingdom since spines cause many problems to the animal itself. Growing spines is a very energy intensive process since they are extra appendages not normally present in other animals. For animals with long spines like porcupines, it causes impaired movement.

What kind of animal has sharp quills on its back?

A large rodent with long and sharp quills on its back is definitely a dangerous spiny animal to not mess with. There are approximately 30,000 quills on a porcupine’s body along with soft hair that covers its back, sides, and tail. When a porcupine feels threatened, it will tense up and attack the predators by swatting its tail.

What does the snout of a spiny animal do?

The snout functions as a mouth and a nose and is used by the animal to burrow into ant and termite hills. These small insects constitute the main diet of the echidna. Though this spiny animal looks very cute, it has been named after the mother of monsters (Echidna) in Greek mythology. There are currently only 4 species of this mammal in the world.

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