The word porcupine in Latin means "quill pig." The solid and sharp quills, covering the body of this animal, serve as a mean of self-defense against predators and are 35 cm (14 in) in length, displaying alternating light and dark stripes. When either type of porcupine is threatened, its quills become erect, which makes the animal appear larger and more dangerous to predators.
It's an inaccurate scientific description as porcupines are rodents and pigs are even-toed ungulates. The hollow rattle quills serve as musical instruments and were once used as containers for gold dust. In addition to being targeted for their quills, they are illegally hunted for their meat. New World porcupines have barbed quills approximately 4 inches in length. The Crested porcupine is so called due to its back, which can raise, becoming a crest on occasion. Yet Latin isn't the only language misidentifying the porcupine: The French word equivalent to the English porcupine is porc espin or "spined pig". Crested porcupines have shorter quills on their back and rump sections. Porcupine quills have long been a favorite ornament and good-luck charm in Africa. The Southern crested Porcupine of Central Africa would seriously be an animal I would highly avoid in future interactions as they are really a bit of …