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New World porcupines (Erethizontinae) originated in South America and dispersed into North America as part of the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) 3-4 million years ago. 1 Extant prehensile-tailed porcupines (Coendou) today live in tropical forests of Central and South America. 2,3 In contrast, North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) are thought to be ecologically adapted to higher-latitude temperate forests, with a larger body, shorter tail, and diet that includes bark. 4,5,6,7 Limited fossils 8,9,10,11,12,13 have hindered our understanding of the timing of this ecological differentiation relative to intercontinental dispersal during the GABI and expansion into temperate habitats. 14,15,16,17,18 Here, we describe functionally important features of the skeleton of the extinct Erethizon poyeri , the oldest nearly complete porcupine skeleton documented from North America, found in the early Pleistocene of Florida. It differs from extant E. dorsatum in having a long, prehensile tail, grasping foot, and lacking dental specializations for bark gnawing, similar to tropical Coendou. Results from phylogenetic analysis suggest that the more arboreal characteristics found in E. poyeri are ancestral for erethizontines. Only after it expanded into temperate, Nearctic habitats did Erethizon acquire the characteristic features that it is known for today. When combined with molecular estimates of divergence times, results suggest that Erethizon was ecologically similar to a larger species of Coendou when it crossed the Isthmus of Panama by the early Pleistocene. It is likely that the range of this more tropically adapted form was limited to a continuous forested biome that extended from South America through the Gulf Coast. • The oldest fossil skeleton of Erethizon resolves eco-evolutionary origin conflict • It preserves functional traits more similar to its tropical relatives • It is more closely related to temperate species despite ecological differences • The ecology of this species implies the existence of forested dispersal corridors Vitek et al. show that the oldest fossil skeleton of a North American porcupine functioned like its distant tropical relatives. Porcupines evolved a temperate-adapted ecology only after arrival to temperate North America. Significant forested corridors must have existed during the Great American Biotic Interchange, permitting dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chewing louse genus Eutrichophilus Mjöberg has 19 species only associated with porcupines (Rodentia: Erethizontidae). Of these species, E. cercolabes , E. cordiceps , E. emersoni , E. minor , E. moojeni, and E. paraguayensis have been recorded in Brazil. In the present study, we report E. cordiceps for the first time in the São Paulo State (Bauru Municipality) and for the second time in the Santa Catarina State (Lages Municipality), providing scanning electron images and light microscopy for the eggs, as well as the first molecular data (18S rRNA) for the genus. Additionally, Bartonella sp. was detected for the first time in this chewing lice species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Western Amazonian Dwarf Porcupine, Coendou ichillus Voss & Da Silva, 2001, is poorly known in South America. The species is known only from eight localities in the Amazon and Orinoquia regions of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. In Colombia, it is known from one locality in the Orinoquía region, based on a specimen collected in 1956. We present a new distribution record which adds information about the presence of C. ichillus in the Napo Moist Forests ecoregion, in the Department of Putumayo, Amazon region of Colombia. We suggest that C. ichillus is more widely distributed in the Amazon region of the country. However, based on the number of known records to date, C. ichillus is the rarest species of porcupine.

The Brazilian Porcupine, Coendou prehensilis (Linnaeus, 1758), is the most widespread species of Coendou Lacépède, 1799 in South America, but little is known on its natural history, ecology and distribution. In Colombia, it has been reported in the lowlands and inter-Andean valleys of 18 continental departments, but there are still gaps on its distribution, natural history and ecology. We present new distribution records and add information of the presence of C. prehensilis in 10 additional departments of Colombia located at the Amazonia, Orinoco, Peri-Caribbean Arid Belt, and North Andean Biogeographic provinces. We suggest that C. prehensilis is the most widespread species in the lowlands of Colombia, although it does not occur in the Biogeographic Chocó and in the inter-Andean medium and high valleys of the Cauca and Magdalena rivers.

A Brazilian Porcupine, Coendou prehensilis (Linnaeus, 1758), was encountered and photographed at night on a recently cleared forest path in Presidente Hayes Department, Paraguay. Although C. prehensilis is widespread and has been reported from a variety of ecoregions and habitats, this record in western Paraguay is the first from the South American Humid Chaco ecoregion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant pelage color patterns such as albinism have been reported in some mammal groups including rodents, but in spite of the group's richness, the phenomenon is relatively poorly documented in the literature. Albino specimens are reported in <2% of the species of rodents, four records of neotropical species were found (Delomys dorsalis, Heteromys anomalus, Octodon degus, Phyllotis andium). Of New World porcupines (Erethizontidae), albinism was documented only in the North American species Erethizon dorsatum. Here we report the first albino record from the Neotropics for this group, a stump-tailed porcupine (Coendou rufescens) in northern Ecuador. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South American porcupines (Erethizontidae) are included in two genera: Chaetomys and Coendou . The latter is a very speciose taxon, with about 13 living species. During at least the late Pliocene–early Pleistocene, erethizontids immigrated to Central and North America during the Great American Biotic Interchange. Although some Pleistocene fossils have been reported, the Quaternary history of this clade is still understudied. The only known extinct species is Coendou magnus . In this work, a fossil of a porcupine is reported from an Upper Pleistocene fluvial sedimentary sequence cropping out in the Northern Pampa geomorphological region, Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Despite this group having different living forms widely distributed in South American Neotropical woodland habitats, the Pleistocene occurrences of Erethizontidae are scarce and limited to Upper Pleistocene deposits from Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay. Currently, the specimen here reported represents the only Pleistocene porcupine from Argentina with a stratigraphical context. The morphological characters as well as the dimensions indicate that it is close to the Pleistocene erethizontid Coendou magnus . In this context, the presence of this erethizontid in such a southern locality, together with other taxa recorded from this site and the associated geological and paleoenvironmental evidence, indicates subtropical conditions, compared with the current conditions, which may have allowed a southern displacement of taxa more related to woodlands and xeric subtropical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first record of Coendou speratus from a cloud forest enclave, based on an adult male specimen captured in April 2016 in a house in the urban zone of the municipality of Garanhuns, in the state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. This record extends the known geographic distribution of the species 167 km west of the type locality in the Atlantic Forest biome. This record is now the westernmost limit of the geographic distribution of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Coendou spinosus is a rodent from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest with a cryptic behavior that hinders collection of information regarding its ecology. On October 2014, we observed an individual of C. spinosus above 2100 m of altitude, on the high-altitude grasslands of the Itatiaia National Park, feeding on the flowers of Camptosema scarlatinum. This is the highest altitude ever recorded and the first registration of vine species consumption and ground feeding behavior by the C. spinosus. Therefore, we recommend the undertaking of new studies to understand its ecological requirements and interspecific interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of previous reviews, there is still no consensus on the information associated to the richness of the genus Coendou in Colombia. To clarify some issues concerning the distribution and the taxonomic identity of the species of Coendou in the country, we reviewed specimens from five natural history collections. We introduce the first record of Coendou ichillus from the Orinoco river basin of the country, extending the distribution of the species by more than 600 km to the north from previous known localities in Ecuador and Peru. Additionally, we present new records of C. pruinosus and C. quichua from the Amazonia and inter-Andean valleys, respectively. Only one skull presents the diagnostic characters of C. bicolor; thus, previous records of this species for the country were based on misidentifications. Coendou is distributed in seven of the nine geographic provinces of Colombia. Coendou prehensilis was found in five provinces and is expected to be present in the Amazonia, whereas C. pruinosus was documented in three provinces (North Andean, Orinoco and Guyana). The rest of the species of Coendou were distributed in one or two provinces. The richest provinces were North Andean and Orinoco with six and four Coendou species, respectively. The elevational ranges of C. prehensilis and C. pruinosus are revised to 0-1975 and 90-2200 m, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that affects man and animals worldwide. The primary hosts and major reservoir for Toxoplasma gondii are felids and the intermediate hosts are most warm-blooded animals including man. This report describes fatal toxoplasmosis in three different rodent species in Germany: a female red squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris ) and a male Swinhoe's striped squirrel ( Tamiops swinhoei ), both kept as pets, and a female New World porcupine ( Erethizontidae sp.) from a zoo. All three animals had multifocal necrotizing hepatitis. Additional findings included lymphohistiocytic and necrotizing myocarditis in the New World porcupine and the Swinhoe's striped squirrel, lymphohistiocytic encephalomyelitis in the New World porcupine and suppurative lymphadenitis in the red squirrel. Numerous tachyzoites were identified associated with the lesions. The diagnosis was confirmed by Toxoplasma. gondii immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. This is the first report of toxoplasmosis in a New World porcupine and a Swinhoe's striped squirrel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) quills embedded in wild carnivores and domestic dogs is not rare; however, the prevalence of this occurrence and its consequences in wildlife are largely unknown. We examined 569 trapper-submitted Wolverine (Gulo gulo) carcasses for embedded porcupine quills. We observed quills in 4.6% of the wolverines, including all sex and age classes. We found quills throughout the body, and, in most cases, injury was not apparent. Observed complications, however, included bone proliferation and tissue damage to internal organs. Our data show that the occurrence of porcupine quills in Wolverine is not rare and demonstrate that, in a few cases, serious injuries may result from migrating quills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We document the occurrence of a North American porcupine Erethizon dorsatum in the Sierra Juárez, municipality of Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, some 100 km east of the nearest record, this represents the seventh record for the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been growing interest in engaging citizen scientists in the collection of environmental data to inform conservation efforts and decision making, and to augment formal monitoring programmes. Citizen scientists can collect data across large spatial and temporal scales that cannot be feasibly covered through traditional research and monitoring programmes. The 'Porcupine Ray Hunt' was a pilot study that engaged the Australian recreational SCUBA diving community in collecting information on the porcupine ray Urogymnus asperrimus, an easily identifiable but rare and poorly understood species. 'Crowd sourcing' of recreational divers was achieved by advertising the programme through diving publications, the internet, e-mail lists and social media (facebook and blogs). Dive clubs, dive shops and research stations also advertised the project. Recreational divers were required to submit photographs and observations for verification and 29 new valid records were received. Submissions also included video footage of foraging and mating behaviour. The submissions received doubled the number of existing records on the species in Australia, identified distribution 'hot spots', provided a depth range for the species and extended the species' range. In doing so, the project demonstrated the potential for citizen scientists to contribute valuable knowledge about rare species, addressing some of the knowledge gaps concerning the porcupine ray and providing preliminary data for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a theory on the formation of the Isthmus of Panama by geologists Camilo Montes, Carlos Jaramillo, and team, which proposes that the land bridge between South and Central America arose 15 million years ago. It is believed that this bridge allowed for the migration of animal species such as porcupines, opossums, and horses between the continents. Scientists have debated the timing of the closure of the isthmus based on data from volcanic rock dating and oxygen isotope signatures of the oceans and foraminifera shells near Panama. The isthmus is also compared with the geology and species distribution of Indonesia. INSET: Salvage Paleontology on the Seaway.

Herbivores have traditionally been categorized as either dietary generalists or specialists based on what they eat or what they are capable of eating. Shipley and others (2009) argued that specialization should also be based on the limitations imposed on an animal by genetics, physiology, and behavior. They categorized herbivores along a specialist-generalist continuum, with specialists defined as facultative or obligatory, based on seasonal or regional niche breadth. The North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) has traditionally been considered a generalist herbivore. However, Porcupines often function as dietary specialists consuming a difficult and narrow diet seasonally, regionally, or individually. Porcupines possess physiological and morphological adaptations to consume a difficult diet and do so at a rate higher than other herbivores. Porcupines should therefore be reclassified as facultative specialists. Additional research is required, however, to better understand the degree of specialization exhibited by Porcupines throughout their range. Comparative studies of diet selection across habitats will provide insight into regional and seasonal dietary specialization, and captive studies are required to understand the physiological mechanisms used by Porcupines to consume difficult foods. Documenting inter-population and individual differences in the ability to metabolize plant secondary metabolites will provide insight into the ecology of Porcupines, and will assist in managing potential impacts of Porcupines on native flora as they expand into new habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thin-spined porcupine Chaetomys subspinosus is an endangered mammal from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Folivory, long periods spent resting and reduced home ranges are characteristics related to their slow behaviour. We captured and restrained four C. subspinosus individuals from Parque Estadual Paulo César Vinha, Guarapari, Espírito Santo State, Brazil, and performed clinical, haematological and coproparasitological tests to partially assess the health status of these animals. We also describe the restraint and monitoring procedures used here. The observed haematological values were similar to previously published results from other Erethizontidae, except for higher platelet counts found in Chaetomys compared to other studies on Coendou and lower packed cell volumes and erythrocyte and leukocyte counts relative to Sphiggurus. No gastrointestinal parasites, ectoparasites or haemoparasites were found. Because all the individuals were in good physical condition, we suggest the use of our data as a reference for future studies on medicine, conservation, ecology and health of this endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a documentation of the mammals American porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, and American black bear, Ursus americanus, that are found in Tamaulipan biotic province of Texas. Other floras and faunas in the area include elm, black willow, Texas ebony, retama and acacias. The impact of a board fence between the U.S. and Mexico on the metapopulations of American porcupine and American black bear is mentioned.

Echimyidae constitute the most important radiation of caviomorph rodents in the Neotropical region, represented by 20 extant genera and several extinct species. Both in extant and fossil forms, this diversity is reflected by a significant morphological variation found in crown structures of the cheek teeth. Different hypotheses of primary homology have been proposed for these structures, which, in turn, support diverse dental evolutionary hypotheses. In this contribution we inspect the main structures (cusps and lophids) of the lower deciduous teeth and molars in extinct and extant Echimyidae, and establish their topological correspondences. Comparisons with cusps and lophids of Erethizontidae are emphasized. We explore the testing of alternative primary hypotheses of lophid correspondences in a cladistic context. Following a 'dynamic' approach, we select the hypothesis of primary homology, which produced the more parsimonious results, and evaluate the evolutionary transformations of the dental characters analysed. In this context, the phylogenetic relationships of living Myocastor coypus (Molina, 1782) with the extinct Tramyocastor and Paramyocastor are tested. Our results indicate that pentalophodonty is the derived condition for the lower molars in Echimyidae, that trilophodonty evolved independently at least three times during the evolutionary history of these rodents, and that tetralophodonty represents the plesiomorphic condition. This study shows that dental evolution in echimyids can be better understood when occlusal structures are expressed as reliably comparable characters, and when fossils are taken into account. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 164, 451-480. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In , Reguero et al. described a 2.5 Ma erethizontid dentary from the Uquía Formation in Argentina (MACN5376) and referred it to the genus Erethizon, a genus found at present only in North America. They based their generic identification on the presence in the fossil of a markedly inflected angular process. I argue in this commentary that this single trait (the angular process) in a single incomplete fossil is insufficient evidence for the Erethizon attribution, for the following reasons: 1. The trait (the inflected angular process) is variable in modern South and North American porcupines and observer bias and/or allometry may be responsible for observed differences; 2. Among fossil South American porcupines, the inflected angular process is not unique to the Uquían fossil; 3. The fossil possesses other traits (including one trait newly described in this paper) associated with modern South American (Coendou) porcupines and not modern Erethizon; and 4. The traits by which we recognize modern Erethizon, primarily related to the genus’s ability to survive severe winters, are most readily explained by evolution driven by the South American porcupine immigrants’ exposure in North America to that severe weather. The Uquían fossil is not Erethizon and should be attributed for the present to the genus Coendou. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chaetomys is a poorly known, monotypic genus of tree porcupine threatened with extinction due to deforestation and habitat fragmentation. Its nocturnal habit, relatively restricted distribution and low level of activity have conspired for decades against detailed field studies. Here the diet of the species in restinga forests is described for the first time. Restinga is a subtype of lowland Atlantic forest occurring on sandy soils close to the Atlantic littoral in Brazil. Three radio-collared females were monitored for 12 months between March 2005 and February 2006. Leaves were the most heavily consumed dietary item, varying from 71.9% to 75.4% of the diet of each individual, followed by flowers (7.7% - 15.7%) and fruits (0 - 1.4%). Animals fed on 57 trees from 14 species, with a higher concentration on Pera glabrata (49.8%) and Tapiriria guianensis (22.7%). Pera glabrata is locally abundant and widely distributed in the Atlantic forest. Each individual consumed a smaller subset of plant species (4-10 species/individual) and shared only the two most important tree species (P. glabrata and T. guianensis). Results corroborate previous studies indicating that Chaetomys is a folivore, perhaps the most folivorous amongst the Erethizontidae. Since the most consumed plant species are relatively common and widespread, Chaetomys might thrive in a broader range of habitats than previously suspected, including secondary forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perineal glands of the porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum (L., 1758), are sexually dimorphic, paired pockets sprouting osmetrichial hairs. They lie between the anus and urethra, lateral to the midline, amid a sebaceous glandular expanse. In their active state, the glandular pockets secrete an amber substance with a terpenoid odor. When inactive, the glands produce no stain or odor. In males, activation of the glands is associated with fully descended testes. The glandular pockets yield a microbiota (“microflora”) in both their active and inactive states. We hypothesize that the active-state microflora transforms a sebaceous secretion into a pheromonally active product that is disseminated by anal dragging. The glandular microflora was characterized by gas chromatography of bacterial fatty acid methyl esters (GC-FAME) and polymerase chain reaction - denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) of 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragments of bacteria. PCR-DGGE results showed the resulting bacteria profiles were the same in both sexes, but differed between the active and inactive states. Active-state microfloras were dominated by members of the Actinobacteria and showed greater coefficients of similarity than inactive-state microfloras. The microflora of individual animals changed with time and with secretory state. We argue for a reproductive role for the activated perineal glands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) dens were monitored in Sandhill Wildlife Area in central Wisconsin between 1996-1997 and 2002-2003 to determine whether they displayed fidelity. Fidelity declined between years, with a higher proportion of Porcupines displaying fidelity to a specific den within a single winter than between winters. Yearlings displayed higher fidelity to den sites than adults. Fidelity was stronger among Porcupines occupying rock vs. tree dens. Familiarity with home spaces and onset of snowfall and snowfall depth also probably influence selection of dens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the use of mitochondrial cytochrome-b DNA and karyologic data to clarify taxonomic status of genera Coendou and Sphiggurus within the family Erethizonthidae. Reason for the low divergence estimates between interspecific and interindividual haplotypes; Characteristics of the X and Y chromosomes.

Hypsosteiromys is the only New World porcupine that shows a tendency to hypsodonty. It is recorded exclusively from the Colhuehuapian Age (Early Miocene) of central Patagonia (Argentina). In addition to the type species, a second one, Hypsosteiromys nectus , is recognized, from the southern cliff of Colhuehuapi Lake (Chubut province). It differs from the type species in the lesser development of the anterolabial and posteroflexid notches of the m1-3, shorter p4 and dp4, and more slender incisors. Dental morphology suggests that the species of Hypsosteiromys lived in more open areas than most fossil and living Erethizontidae. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Three Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) were found dead in porcupine (Erethizon darsatum) dens in northern Wisconsin between 1996-2000. Use of these dens appeared to be cases of shelter-seeking behavior by wolves suffering from sarcoptic mange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karyotypic analysis was performed in two male specimens of Sphiggurus villosus collected in the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The observed 2n = 42 / FN = 76 karyotype was similar to those of other Erethizontidae such as Erethizon dorsatum and Sphiggurus vestitus and to hystricomorph rodents like Myocastor coypus . Current karyotypic data showed that two species of the genus Coendou share the same diploid and fundamental numbers (2n = 74 / FN = 82) but 3 Sphiggurus species differ in diploid number while sharing the same fundamental number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]