PORCUPINE 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Erethizon 



Canada Porcupine. — Erethizon dorsatiim dorsatum (Linnaeus) . 

 As described. Found from Nova Scotia south through 

 Pennsylvania in the mountains, westward in forests through 

 the Great Lakes district and northwestward to the Arctic 

 Circle. Plate XXXV. 



Labrador Porcupine, — Erethizon dorsatum picinum Bangs. 

 Like typical dorsatum but lacking the light-tipped hairs; 

 incisors dull yellow rather than orange. Color jet black to 

 brownish black, yellow-tipped hairs found only on rump and 

 sides of tail and then only sparingly. Total length, 32 

 inches; tail vertebrse, 7 inches; hind foot, 4 inches. Found 

 in Labrador. 



Yellow-haired Porcupine. — Erethizon epixanthum epixanthum 

 Brandt. 

 Resembling dorsatum but colored differently; long hairs 

 tipped with greenish yellow. Total length, 2,2 inches; tail 

 vertebrae, 6.5 inches; hind foot, 4.2 inches. Found from 

 Utah and Colorado northward through foiested country to 

 Alaska; known as far east as North Dakota; south in the 

 Cascade mountains into California, and down the Sierra 

 Nevadas to about Mt. Whitney. 



Nebraska Yellow-haired Porcupine. — Erethizon epixanthum 

 bruneri Swenk. 

 "Similar to E. epixanthum epixanthum Brandt, of Califor- 

 nia, but slightly larger, with the hind feet comparatively 

 shorter, the general coloration paler and duller, the under 

 side of the tail largely or wholly brownish yellow. ..." 

 (Swenk) Total length, 34 inches; tail vertebrae, 8 inches; 

 hind foot, 4 inches. Found in forested areas in Nebraska; 

 limits of range unknown but recorded from Wyoming, 

 Montana, and Kansas. 



Arizona Porcupine. — Erethizon epixanthum couesi Meams. 

 Smaller and less yellow than typical epixajtthum; ears 

 larger; quills tipped with brown; long hairs tipped with 

 whitish; brownish on muzzle, feet, and underparts. Found 

 in Arizona (Yavapai County); limits of range unknown. 



Dusky Porcupine. — Erethizon epixanthum nigrescens Allen. 

 Yellow tipping of long hairs paler than in typic 1 epixanthum 

 and general coloration darker; pelage, exclusive of spines 

 and light tips of hairs, sooty black. Total length, 30 inches; 

 tail vertebras, 8.2 inches; hind foot, 3.6 inches. Found in 

 British Columbia in the region of Telegraph Creek, Level 

 Mountains and Shesley River; limits of range unknown. 



Alaska Porcupine. — Erethizon epixanthum myops Merriam. 

 "Similar to E. epixanthum but tail and hind feet shorter; 

 body, flanks and sides of tail even yellower; face whiter 

 from more abundant admixture of yellowish white hairs on 

 sides of face and between eyes, so that the fore part of head 

 appears almost grayish instead of sooty." (Merriam) 



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