🦔
Golden Showers of Love
Male porcupines woo females by standing on their hind legs and spraying them with urine from up to 6 feet away.
Porcupine
Erethizontidae
Covered in sharp quills, porcupines have developed creative solutions to the challenge of mating safely.
Vital Stats
🏷️ TypeRodent (quilled)
🌍 Found InAmericas, Africa, Asia, Europe — forests, deserts, grasslands
📏 Size25-90cm, 1-27kg depending on species
⏳ Lifespan5-18 years depending on species
🔞 Sexual Maturity15 months - 2 years
💕 Mating SystemFemales only receptive 8-12 hours per year; males compete fiercely
📅 Mating SeasonLate summer/fall
🤰 Gestation112-210 days depending on species
👶 Offspring1-4 young (born with soft quills that harden quickly)
🍆 Penis Size6 cm
⏱️ Sex Duration3 minutes
🔬 Notable AnatomyMales spray females with urine from up to 6 feet away as courtship
⚖️ Sexual DimorphismSimilar size; males may have larger quills