If the female accepts the nose rubbing and, after the initial nose rubbing test, the female is still keen on the male, the male will then stand on its hind legs and the female allows him to urinate all over her body (kinky). Porcupines are desirable too; they get a mate for life and get to mate every single day! Very carefully, I should think! These hairs are coated with a thick layer of keratin (similar to fingernails) with several small layers of barbs at the tip. The one not knocked out wins mating rights—but the seduction’s not done. Only the beaver and capybara are larger in the rodent kingdom. Related Questions. In this episode of The Brain Food Show, we start by looking at whether or not male humans can get pregnant and carry a baby to full term naturally. How do porcupines mate? Favourite answer. Porcupines mate in a very bizarre way. Female North American porcupines, on the other hand, are only fertile once a year for a period of eight to 12 hours (little is known about the mating behaviors of … How do porcupines reproduce? A quick … by Wendy Cooper Australian National University Introduction. This mating typically occurs in late summer or early fall. They are considered pests primarily for this very reason, gnawing on and destroying anything that has salt on or in it. Your email address will not be published. Males drawn by the smell fight each other in the tree branches and on the ground below her. "The male approaches on his hind legs and tail, grunting in a low tone. Porcupines mate in a very bizarre way. carefully!!!!! 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. There is a thick loop of connective tissue that surrounds the follicle and attaches it to the skin. How do porcupines make love? How can you read an entire article about porcupines where the word is written 28 (TWENTY-EIGHT) times and proceed to write “porkupines?” That level of incompetence seems deliberate Jesus Christ. Porcupine quills are just specialized hairs ranging from ½ inch to 4 inches long. Here’s how. ...Very carefully. Nice article. You would probably think the answer is very carefully, but you would probably be wrong.The answer is more improbable and much more bizarre than that. Evolution has developed an ingenious method for the release of quills. The second largest rodent in… As an observer of the North American porcupine for more than 30 years, Uldis Roze has no idea how many times he has heard this joke. Please note that this site uses cookies to personalise content and adverts, to provide social media features, and to analyse web traffic. Porcupines are the third largest rodent on earth. They range from 25-36 inches long and weigh between 12-35 pounds. 1 decade ago. Once erect, the quills can deeply penetrate the skin and the tightened muscles make it easier to detach the quill. But when she’s ready, the female curves her tail over her spiky back so her tail’s quill-free underside is facing up, Roze says. In this case, the urine is ejaculated at high pressure, rather than relying on internal bladder pressure. Porcupines mate in a very bizarre way. Specifically, research has shown that the tightened muscles make it 40% easier to detach the quill then if the connective tissue was loose. Relevance. Should they make contact, the quills are your Darwin-Award for inattention to warning signs. Answer: Very Carefully {VIDEO} I cannot be the only one who has ever wondered this. Required fields are marked *. This female North American porcupine was photographed at the Great Plains Zoo, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Answer. Despite it's cute appearance, it is in fact a rodent. Female porcupines are receptive to sexual advances for only about 8-12 hours per year, much like my ex-wife. How do porcupines make love? Except for mamas raising babies—which are known adorably as porcupettes—porcupines are mostly solitary creatures. Should you ignore these first two signs, the porcupine will then turn its back to you and charge at you backwards. Register to join beta. That answer is “correct, but not very enlightening,” says Roze, a professor emeritus of biology at New York’s Queens College. Porcupines are in constant need of salt and will stop at nothing to get at it. How do Porcupines Mate? Very cautiously. It is kinky indeed. Actually, porcupines mate as do other mammals without quills. If all is successful, approximately 112-210 days later (depending on the species) a little porcupine baby is born. This was just heart breaking. Please enter your email address. The old joke of "How do two porcupines have sex" with the punchline of "carefully" is true. 1 0. the_american00. how do porcupines mate ? The fact is, they do the same thing as the rest of us — they dive in eagerly, hope for the best, and try not to get hurt too much.” To. This process often results in them getting stuck with quills during the fighting, even if they win. Be the first to answer this question. Don’t think all parts of Africa are in love with this strange rodent though. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- And don’t worry that the porcupine will be left defenseless by releasing too many quills. To induce estrus in the female, the male squirts her with urine, a few drops at a time. All she has to do to deter a potential rapist is to swipe his mating-ready exposed sensitive region with her tail, problem solved. Please enter your email address. The male porcupine aims to impress the female by whining the victor and giving her signal to lower her quills and get ready to mate by moving her tail towards her side. I do bet that on a clear nite,you can hear a “porky” poop as he passes thaose sing shards;YOOOUCH! I really need this information for my Ethology open book exam. Favourite answer. How Do Porcupines Mate? How do porcupines mate? The species’ annual mating season is in early fall. I also would love to see this urination process. 1 decade ago. The male then can rest his paws on that surface while doing the deed. All rights reserved, Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark. The answer is “correct, if not rewarding,” said Roze, professor emeritus of biology at … They occupy every part of the body except the face, inner parts of the limbs and the stomach. What is their eliminative behavior (Like how do they excrete out urine and defecate). They first begin their ludicrous lovemaking with some nose rubbing. Females will mate several times with the male of their choice until he becomes sexually exhausted. The male made sexual contact from behind the female. The longest quills are on the butt, and the smallest are on the cheeks. I have searched but it seems there is no such info. A common misconception is that porcupines can “throw” their quills. Baby porcupines are born with their eyes open and very well developed. The male porcupine and female porcupine battle. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email. I don’t think porcupine quills are up to 4 inches thick. The female porcupine takes the mating initiative. Interestingly, unlike many female animals that are frequently raped (such as with ducks where an estimated 1 in 3 mating acts is rape), the female porcupine cannot be raped. With a back full of sharp quills just how do exactly porcupine sex work? Do their spines get in the way? Should the rain from the main vein be acceptable, she will expose her non-quilled underbelly and allow the male to copulate for 2-5 minutes. The urine is “propelled at such high velocity,” Roze says, “that even if a male and female are sitting on separate branches in a tree, his urine can reach her.” The male keeps it up—“repeated salvos over many hours,” Roze says—until the female is in the mood. They can expect a life span of about 20 years. Today I found out how porcupines have sex….very carefully! Porcupines can be divided into two broad groups: Old World and New World. “How do porcupines mate?” the old joke goes, with the answer being “very, very carefully”. Go… You have shown that some women can stand up to these males and put them in their place. As an observer of American porcupines for over 30 years, Uldis Roze no longer knows how many times he has heard this joke. How do porcupines mate in spite of their pointy quills? He then becomes a urine cannon, squirting high-pressure jets of urine at the female. Fortunately for the male porcupine, the female can control the spines and, during mating, pulls them tightly against its … Lost your password? 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In 2005, there was such an infestation that the Kenyan people pleaded with the government to control the problem. There are about 30,000 of them on any one porcupine. Known as a porcupette (read more about the names for baby animals), the baby is born with all its quills but also wrapped in the amniotic sac that smooths the little one’s arrival. Ever the innovative people, some Kenyans saw this opportunity to make lemonade from lemons and created a new delicacy with the vermin. Approximately seven months later, the female will give birth—in this species, usually a single offspring. So how do porcupines mate? But I'm convinced that even with needles down mating for male porcupines must be a very painful experience. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Very carefully, the saying goes. They first begin their ludicrous lovemaking with some nose rubbing. How Porcupines Mate, the Bizarre Sex Habits of Giraffes (and Much, Much More) June 17, 2019 Daven Hiskey 4 comments. This mating ritual is not only strange, but also is infrequent. How do porcupines mate?” My answer: “I realize that I’m supposed to give the stock answer of ‘very carefully,’ but that’s not really true. When relaxed, this tissue is soft and only loosely holds the quill in place. 0 0 1. During this time, female porcupines climb up into trees and secrete a thick mucus that mixes with their urine. This odorous concoction attracts males in the area like a putrid perfume. Quills could make mounting the female a prickly proposition. ... males required a period of close association with the females before they would mate with them. Typically, the two then descend the tree to breed. Lost your password? The species’ annual mating season is in early fall. Should this golden shower not be up to the female’s standards (she doesn’t like the pheromones), she will shake off the urine and find herself another mate. Their quills are soft directly after birth (which I’m sure the mother appreciates) but will harden within about an hour. available on the net. In fact, this is not an ability they possess (luckily). They grow back within a month or two. While females at the peak of receptivity would accept any male, males required a period of close association with the … So, how do porcupines mate? The curing compound used in plywood production is sodium nitrate. How do porcupines mate? You got to imagine it would be a fairly dangerous endeavor. They first begin their ludicrous lovemaking with some nose rubbing. But look at that face. Your email address will not be published. kezza. 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