Can a porcupine actually shoot, or throw its quills at an aproaching enemy. or is this a myth...?

Question

had an agument with co-worker today...

Answer 1

no they can't really throw thier quills, they are loosely attached to the body and move thier tail back and forth when threatenend. there are batbs on the end of each quill that when they touch the skin of a predator they stick

Answer 2

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/porcupi...

The porcupine uses its quills for defense. The porcupine cannot shoot its quills. When a predator approaches, the porcupine will turn its back, raise the quills and lash out at the threat with its tail. If the porcupine hits an animal with its quills, the quills become embedded in the animal. Body heat makes the barbs expand and they become even more deeply embedded in the animal's skin. If an animal is hit in a vital place it may die. The porcupine is not an aggressive animal. It will only attack if it is threatened. Some animals, like the fisher, are experts at attacking porcupines.

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t...

Let's get right to the point: porcupines cannot shoot their quills! Quills are just modified hairs made out of keratin, the same substance found in our own hair and fingernails. The quills do not cover the underside of the porcupine. Porcupines have muscles at the base of each quill that allow them to stand up when the animal is excited or alarmed. Like all hairs, quills do shed, and when the porcupines shake, loose quills can fly off (but without deadly force). Still, the quills can cause problems, and puncture wounds inflicted by porcupines are very serious.

Answer 3

i think its a myth if something attacks them i think their quills come lose and end up in the nose of the attacker

Answer 4

No, they can't throw or shoot them. They are a passive defense system. When an enemy tries to grab the porcupine, the quills will nail the predator, and while the porcupine shakes trying to break free, some loose quills may fall off at a close distance. But the porcupine can't really throw them.