New World porcupines originated in South America and dispersed into North America between 4 and 3 million years ago. Prehensile-tailed porcupines today live in tropical forests of Central and South America. In contrast, North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) are thought to be adapted to higher-latitude temperate forests, with a larger body, shorter tail, and diet that includes bark. In a paper published this week in the journal Current Biology,...
