Do porcupines have spikes on their bodies?
Yes, porcupines have spikes on their bodies known as quills. Quills are modified hairs with barbed tips that cover most of the porcupine's back and tail. Contrary to a common myth, porcupines cannot shoot their quills. Instead, when threatened, they may raise their quills to make themselves appear larger and more formidable. If a predator gets too close, the porcupine may lash out or back into them, embedding the quills into the attacker's skin. The barbs on the quills make them difficult to remove easily. While porcupines use quills for defense, they are not aggressive animals and typically rely on their quills as a last resort.