Giant wood porcupine

Habitat: woods at plains and mountains of northwest of Northern America (to the west up to southern areas of Beringia)
After extinction of plenty of hoofed mammals species at the border of Holocene and Neocene other herbivore mammals had occupied become empty ecological niches having caused fantastical species. There were rodents among them, huge by variety order including in Holocene basically small and absolutely tiny species. Certainly in various epochs of Cenozoic rodents more than once “tried” to come to middle- and large-sized class, and sometimes it happened most advantageously: the rhinoceros-sized rodent lived in South America and Pleistocene North-American species of beavers reached the size of bear had appeared among them. In Holocene largest representative of this group were beaver and capybara lived in rivers. But in Neocene having occupied various ecological niches rodents have fairly increased their size. In South America among rodents forms similar to antelopes and pigs, and also giants similar to ground sloths of Pliocene and Pleistocene have appeared. At the territory of Mexican plateau the bear-sized porcupine has lodged in Neocene. But in wood zone of Northern America this porcupine has even larger relative.
Giant wood porcupine is very large representative of Neocenic rodents (it weights up to 1 ton; growth of animal standing on hinder legs is up to 3 meters, general length is over 5 meters including tail). Back legs of this animal are longer than front ones; due to it animal can stand on two legs eating plants. Feet of hinder legs are covered with thick cornificate skin therefore animal equally easily can walk both on stones heated up by sun and on winter ice. It is a herbivorous animal; its food includes leaves and branches of various deciduous trees. In winter giant wood porcupine can eat even poorly nutritious branches of coniferous trees and roots digging out from ground. On forepaws of porcupine there are curve claws with which help animal gets food to itself and effectively protects from enemies. When the animal moves on four legs, it leans against lateral surface of fingers, claws thus are directed by tops to each other.
This species of animals lives in temperate zone frequently rising highly in mountains. Therefore in winter it should endure rather strong frosts. Fur helps it to do it becoming to winter thicker and denser. Colouring of fur is changeable, as well as at its desert neighbour: there are variants of colouring from light brown up to grey and straw-coloured. In fur the main protective weapon of the huge wood porcupine is hidden – very thick (up to 2 cm at the basis) needles up to 40 - 60 cm long. They are especially numerous on neck (from above and from sides) and shoulders and then grow by strip along back (up to the basis of tail). Thus, all places which predator prefers to attack are reliably protected. Needles are mobile; animal can lift and lower them depending on a situation. Sometimes (especially if the predator is weak or inexperienced) giant porcupine itself can attack it, striking impacts by needles growing on shoulders. Besides it can strongly bite by huge incisors. During fight the porcupine roars for frightening. But usually adult animals seldomly show their abilities: while they are strong and healthy they practically have no enemies. And cubs of huge porcupines can become easy catch of predators departing far from mother.
At the female in pack there are 1 – 2 cubs. The new litter appears once a year, but young growth long time stays with the female: last year's cubs continue to feed with mother after birth of new ones, abandoning her up to the time of sexual maturity (at the third year of life). Cubs are born without needles being overgrown by them at the first month of life. But the newborn wood porcupine is covered with wool, can see and already in half an hour after birth studies to walk. The wool of cubs of the first year of life is dark but after the first winter, during spring moult, colouring is shown which the animal will have all next life.
Sexual maturity comes at the third year of life. At this time young animals are already independent, and take part in courtship games which take place at the end of summer. On borders of individual possessions battles of males for the right of pairing with females happen. But these tournaments are not as substantial as at the desert bear porcupine: usually two males battle for one or two females. But fights happen fierce seldomly: more often all events may end by might demonstration. Contenders peel bark on tree trunks, pull out bunches of grass from the ground, urinate trees plentifully and snort loudly. Females observe of the duel from the side stimulating contenders by characteristic rumbling and spraying strongly smelling urine.
Pairing proceeds not for long and animals miss soon. But during carings the excited males can take cubs of any female for contenders and attack them. Frequently grown up young growth survived in winter and has got stronger, perishes from attacks of males in courtship season. But porcupine has successfully survived in youth can live about 60 years.