Scientific name of the common porcupine, reproductive information, and general remarks about this pokey mammal. Porcupines are large, slowmoving rodents that can be distinguished from other Kansas mammals by: 1 heavy body and relatively small head and ears, 2 thick muscular tail, 3 brownishblack to black upperparts with light yellow guard hairs, and yellow, barbed spines tipped with black, loosely attached to the skin, and concentrated on the rump and tail, 4 buffy and spineless underparts, 5 broad, orangered incisors, and 6 large feet with naked soles and strong, curved claws. Sexes are alike in color and size; young are darker than adults.

Telephone: 785-864-1505
Website: http://www.ksr.ku.edu/libres/Mammals_of_Kansas/erethizon.html