Jen Guyton / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) barely alive, with Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) quills through his abdomen. Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Gerrit Vyn / Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) on tundra. North Slope, Alaska, USA. September.

Roland Seitre / Baby Rothschild's Porcupine (Coendou rothschildi) on the palm of conservation volunteer. La Marinas Wildlife Rescue Centre, Costa Rica, 2008.

Roland Seitre / Baby Rothschild's Porcupine (Coendou rothschildi) being bottle-fed. La Marinas Wildlife Rescue Centre, Costa Rica, 2008.

Alex Mustard / Spotted porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix) swimming in open water above a coral reef, West Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies, Caribbean Sea.

Tim Fitzharris / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) eating an apple, North America

Konrad Wothe / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), North America

Peter Blackwell / Back view of Crested porcupine {Hystrix cristata} walking away, Central Kenya

Tim Fitzharris / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) portrait, Montana

Gerry Ellis / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) climbing tree, North America

Tim Fitzharris / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) feeding on fruit, Montana

Matthias Breiter / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) in willow tree near the Denali highway, Alaska

Michael Quinton / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) feeding on Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) in spring, Alaska

Michael Quinton / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) sitting in a tree in winter, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Michael Quinton / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) feeding on Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) in spring, Alaska

George Sanker / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) feeding. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. May.

George Sanker / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) feeding. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. May.

George Sanker / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) feeding on riverbank. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. May.

Yashpal Rathore / Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) foraging at night. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India. Camera trap image.

Yashpal Rathore / Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) foraging at night. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India. Camera trap image.

Yashpal Rathore / Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) foraging at night. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India. Camera trap image.

Yashpal Rathore / Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) Western Ghats, Karnataka, India. Camera Trap image.

Yashpal Rathore / Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) inquisitive young tiger cub following Porcupine (Hystrix indica) at night, Kanha National Park, Central India. Camera trap image.

Suzi Eszterhas / Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) Kalahari Desert, South Africa

David Fleetham / Common short tailed porcupine (Hystrix brachyura), Bali, Indonesia.

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica) near house at night, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Ernie Janes / Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) close up of quill pattern, captive.

Ernie Janes / Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) close up of quill pattern, captive.

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), leaving its rocky den, Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), leaving its rocky den, Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), leaving its rocky den, Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) with a maple syrup tapping tube. These tubes are used to carry sap to large tanks. Porcupines have learned to bite the tubes so that they can drink the li...

Paul Williams / Bite marks on a tree caused by a North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / Bite marks on a tree caused by a North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / Bite marks on a tree caused by a North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / Bite marks on a tree caused by a North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) in snow, Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), climbing a tree in snow, Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), climbing a tree in snow, Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), climbing a tree in snow. Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / Cameraman filming a North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) with a maple syrup tapping tube. These tubes are used to carry sap to large tanks. Porcupines have learned to bite the tubes so that they can drink the li...

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) with a maple syrup tapping tube. These tubes are used to carry sap to large tanks. Porcupines have learned to bite the tubes so that they can drink the li...

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), in defensive posture with erect quills. Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) in snow, Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) in snow, Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), feeding on a young spruce tree. Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), feeding on a young spruce tree. Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), feeding on a young spruce tree. Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), feeding on a young spruce tree. Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) in snow, Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Paul Williams / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), leaving its rocky den, Vermont, USA. (Habituated rescued individual returned to the wild)

Sylvain Cordier / North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), captive, USA, September.

Jen Guyton / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) barely alive, with Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) quills through his abdomen. Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Jen Guyton / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) barely alive, with Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) quills through his abdomen. Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Jen Guyton / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) barely alive, with Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) quills through his abdomen. Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Albert Lleal / Porcupine (Hystricidae) quill cross-section, magnified at 100x

Will Burrard-Lucas / Porcupine, (Hystrix africaeaustralis) drinking from pool, taken with remote camera. Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia. November

Gerrit Vyn / Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) on tundra. North Slope, Alaska, USA. September.

Philippe Clement / Two Indian crested porcupines (Hystrix indica) resting, captive, native to southern Asia and the Middle East.

Philippe Clement / Two Indian crested porcupines / Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica), native to southern Asia and the Middle East, captive

Ann & Steve Toon / Porcupine caterpillar (order Lepidoptera), Mundulea reserve, Otavi, Namibia, May

Tony Heald / Lion (Panthera leo) male, with Cape Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) quills in mane, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa, January

Juergen Freund / Pufferfish (Diodon hystix) Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Konrad Wothe / North American porcupine with young (Erethizon dorsatum) Alaska, USA, July

Roland Seitre / Baby Rothschild's Porcupine (Coendou rothschildi) climbing tree trunk. Captive. La Marinas Wildlife Rescue Centre, Costa Rica, 2008.

Roland Seitre / Conservation volunteer with a baby Rothschild's Porcupine (Coendou rothschildi). La Marinas Wildlife Rescue Centre, Costa Rica, 2008.

Roland Seitre / Conservation volunteer with a baby Rothschild's Porcupine (Coendou rothschildi). La Marinas Wildlife Rescue Centre, Costa Rica, 2008.

Konrad Wothe / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) in tree, North America

ZSSD / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) close-up

ZSSD / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) adult in tree, native to North America

Luiz Claudio Marigo / Porcupine {Coendou mexicanum} feeding in tree, Gran Chaco NP, Bolivia

Larry Michael / Underside of North american porcupine showing teeth {Erethizon dorsatum} captive, Illinois, USA

Konrad Wothe / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) portrait in tree, North America

Konrad Wothe / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) detail of quills, North America

Konrad Wothe / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) baby, North America

Konrad Wothe / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) baby climbing in tree, North America

Konrad Wothe / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) mother and baby in tree, North America

Michael Quinton / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) feeding on Pussywillow (Salix discolor) in the spring, Alaska

Michael Quinton / Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) feeding on Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) in winter, Island Park, Idaho

Patricio Robles Gil / North american porcupine in tree {Erethizion dorsatum} Chihuahua, Mexico

Richard Du Toit / Damage to tree caused by Porcupine {Hystrix sp} Chobe NP, Botswana

Pete Oxford / Lion {Panthera leo} male with porcupine quill in muzzle, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Peter Blackwell / Crested porcupine {Hystrix cristata} Central Kenya

Jabruson / Porcupine fish {Diodon hystrix} made into tourist curio for sale on Sal Is, Cape Verde Islands

Tony Heald / Porcupine walking {Hystrix africaeaustralis} Damaraland, Namibia

Tony Heald / Porcupine portrait {Hystrix africaeaustralis} Damaraland, Namibia

Tony Heald / Porcupine at water {Hystrix africaeaustralis} Damaraland, Namibia

Tony Heald / Porcupine drinking {Hystrix africaeaustralis} Damaraland, Namibia

Peter Blackwell / Crested porcupine {Hystrix cristata} foraging on ground, Central Kenya, Africa

David Fleetham / Spotted porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix), Maui, Hawaii. Porcupinefish are also known as blowfish, balloonfish or globefish.

David Fleetham / Inflated spotted porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix), Maui, Hawaii.

David Fleetham / Scuba diver photographing spotted porcupinefish (Diodon hystrix), Hawaii.

David Fleetham / Spotted porcupinefish / blowfish / balloonfish / globefish (Diodon hystrix), with table-coral behind, Sipidan Island, Malaysia.

David Fleetham / Juvenile birdbeak burrfish (Cyclichthys orbicularis), Mabul Island, Malaysia.

Laurent Geslin / Skull and teeth of Crested porcupine {Hystrix cristata}