Porcupine Artistry
The patterns that a porcupine’s incisors leave when a porcupine has been removing bark down to the cambium can be a work of art. The way in which a porcupine makes these patterns is as intriguing as the patterns themselves. “The porcupine removes the bark in small triangular patches, each patch composed of five or six scrapes converging on an apex, like sticks in a teepee. The apex represents the position of the upper incisors, held fixed against the bark. The lower incisors scrape, moving over a fresh path as the lower jaw swivels in a narrow arc.” (Uldus Rose, The North American Porcupine) Fortunately, porcupine incisors, like those of all rodents, grow continually. Even though each incisor loses 100% of its length to wear in a year’s chewing, its length always remains the same. Juvenile porcupines leave a much less “organized” set of incisor marks (overlapping, randomly placed) than adults.
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Do the lower and upper incisors grow at the same rate? It would seem that the lower are getting all the workout here.
January 5, 2016 at 7:41 am
Excellent thought, Penny. Apparently it’s the hard enamel in the opposing teeth that do most of the paring, not the softer bark. But it does make you wonder if the bottom incisors are a bit more worn!
January 5, 2016 at 8:18 am
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Have u seen any marks like these??
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January 5, 2016 at 9:30 am