Examples of animals with quills include porcupines, hedgehogs, echidna, and tenrecs.
Quills are a common feature of many animal species. They can be used for defense, camouflage, or temperature regulation. Some animals have very sharp quills that can pierce human skin, while others have quills that are more like bristles.
Quills come in many different shapes and sizes, depending on the animal’s needs. This blog post will explore the different types of quills found in animals across the world.
Examples of Animals with Quills
1. African Crested Porcupine
| Scientific Name | Hystrix cristata |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy |
The African crested porcupine is the largest species of porcupine in the world. It has long brown-black quills and an impressive mane. These quills are sharp and very dangerous. The animal uses them for protection against predators, but will also use them to mark its territory.
2. African Pygmy Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Atelerix albiventris |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | central and East Africa |
The African pygmy hedgehog is a small nocturnal animal whose quills are mostly used for defense. The prickly creature will curl into a ball to protect its soft underbelly from predators, and it can roll up in the blink of an eye. These tiny quilts are not as durable or sharp as porcupine quills, but they are still dangerous to humans who may come in contact with the hedgehog.
3. Algerian Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Atelerix algirus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Algeria, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia |
Similar to the African pygmy hedgehog, the Algerian hedgehog is a small, spiky creature that uses its quills for protection. Its quills are much longer and more sturdy than those of other species, so it can even use them as weapons against predators. The Algerian hedgehog also has special glands in its skin that secrete a noxious substance, making it even more dangerous to predators.
4. Amur Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Erinaceus amurensis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Russia, Manchuria in China, and the Korean Peninsula |
The Amur hedgehog is the largest species of hedgehog in the world. It has long, brown quills that are used for camouflage and defense. The quills on its back are shorter than those on its sides, which helps the animal to blend in with its surroundings. The Amur hedgehog will also use its quills to make a loud noise when it is threatened, which can scare away predators.
5. Bare-Bellied Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Paraechinus nudiventris |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | southeastern India |
The bare-bellied hedgehog is a small, spiky creature that uses its quills for protection. Its quills are much shorter than those of other species, and they are not as sharp or durable. However, the bare-bellied hedgehog makes up for this with its speed and agility. It can run up to 35 miles per hour, making it very difficult for predators to catch.
6. Brandt’s Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Paraechinus hypomelas |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | The Middle East and Central Asia |
These hedgehogs are found in Africa and have quills that are up to 2.5 inches long. The quills on their backs are black and white, while the quills on their sides are mostly white. These hedgehogs use their quills for defense against predators.
Related Article: 28 Animals Like Hedgehogs
7. Daurian Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Mesechinus dauuricus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Northern Mongolia |
The Daurian hedgehog is a small, spiny mammal found in parts of Asia and Eastern Europe. This animal has long, sharp quills that can be used for defense against predators. The quills are also hollow, which allows the hedgehog to trap air inside them as an extra layer of insulation. This helps the Daurian hedgehog stay warm in cold weather.
While the Daurian hedgehog’s quills may make it look intimidating, this animal is actually quite shy and tends to avoid contact with humans. It can be found in patches of dense vegetation, where it forages for insects, grubs, and other small prey. Despite its spiky exterior, the Daurian hedgehog is a gentle creature that poses no threat to humans.
8. Desert Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Paraechinus aethiopicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | throughout the Middle East and parts of Africa |
The desert hedgehog lives in the hot, dry climates of southern Africa, where it has adapted to survive in a very harsh environment. The desert hedgehog uses its sharp quills for defense when hunting insects or other small prey. The quills are also important for insulation, allowing the desert hedgehog to keep cool under the intense African sun.
9. Echidna
| Scientific Name | Tachyglossidae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Australia |
The echidna is a unique mammal found in Australia and New Guinea. This unusual animal has sharp, pointed quills all over its body that act as a protection mechanism against predators. The echidna’s quills are made of keratin, the same material that makes up our hair and nails, which gives them their extremely sharp and durable structure. These quills can easily pierce the skin of other animals, making the echidna a very effective fighter in its natural environment.
While the echidna’s quills provide it with protection against predators, they also play an important role in regulating its body temperature. Much like a porcupine, the echidna can raise or lower its quills to control how much heat is conducted through its body. In hot weather, the echidna will lower its quills to cool off, and in cold weather, it will raise them to keep warm.
Related Article: Do Echidna Have Spikes?
10. Egyptian Long-Eared Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Hemiechinus auritus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa |
The Egyptian long-eared hedgehog is a small mammal found in North Africa. This hedgehog has long, sharp quills that are used for both defense and insulation. The quills on the back of this hedgehog are up to 4 inches (10 cm) long, while the quills on its sides are shorter, only reaching about 2 inches (5 cm) in length. These quills are incredibly sharp, and can easily pierce human skin.
11. European Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Erinaceus europaeus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | throughout Europe |
The European hedgehog is another animal that uses quills to help regulate its body temperature. Like the echidna, these animals have stiff bristles that they can raise and lower depending on their environment. However, the hedgehog’s quills are much smaller and softer than those of the echidna, making them less dangerous but also less effective as a defense mechanism.
12. Gaoligong Forest Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Mesechinus wangi |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Yunnan Province |
The Gaoligong Forest Hedgehog is a small, nocturnal mammal found in the forests of China. Like other hedgehogs, it has sharp quills that cover its entire body as a defense mechanism against predators. However, unlike other hedgehogs, the Gaoligong Forest Hedgehog’s quills are unusually long and thin, making them even more effective at piercing the skin of other animals.
The Gaoligong Forest Hedgehog uses its quills in a variety of ways depending on the particular situation. For example, when it is threatened by a predator, it will raise its quills to make itself appear larger and more intimidating. However, if the predator persists, the hedgehog will roll into a tight ball, using its quills to form an impenetrable barrier around itself.
13. Hugh’s Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Mesechinus hughi |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | central China and Manchuria |
Hugh’s hedgehog is a small mammal found in Africa. This creature is named after its characteristic feature: a line of sharp quills running down its back. These quills are made of keratin, just like the echidna’s quills, and they are extremely sharp and durable. The hedgehog uses its quills for defense against predators, as well as for temperature regulation. In hot weather, the hedgehog will lower its quills to cool off, and in cold weather, it will raise them to keep warm.
14. Indian Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Paraechinus micropus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | India and Pakistan |
Indian hedgehogs have a coat of spines that are used for defense against predators. The spines are made of keratin, the same protein that makes up human hair and nails. Indian hedgehogs can also roll into a tight ball to protect their soft underbellies.
15. Indian Long-Eared Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Hemiechinus collaris |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | India (Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh) and Pakistan (Northwest Frontier Province, Punjab, and Sindh) |
These unusual hedgehogs are found in the western Himalayas. They have long, sharp quills that can grow up to six inches (15 cm) in length. These quills are used for defense against predators, and they also help the hedgehog regulate its body temperature.
16. North American Porcupine
| Scientific Name | Erethizon dorsatum |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Canada, the northeastern and western regions of the United States |
The North American porcupine is famous for its long and sharp quills. These quills cover the animal’s entire body and are used whenever the porcupine feels threatened. The porcupine can use its quills to defend itself against predators like mountain lions or bears. However, these quills cause very little damage to a human being.
17. Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Erinaceus roumanicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Eastern Europe and Southwestern Asia |
Northern white-breasted hedgehogs are a common species of hedgehog found throughout parts of Europe and Asia. They have sharp, pointed quills that grow along the length of their body as a form of protection from predators. These quills are very sharp, and can easily pierce human skin when handled carelessly.
18. Old World Porcupine
| Scientific Name | Hystricidae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa and Asia |
These porcupines are found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. They have long, sharp quills that can reach up to 10 inches in length. The quills are covered in a layer of keratin, which makes them very tough. Old world porcupines use their quills for defense against predators.
19. Sea Urchin
| Scientific Name | Echinoidea |
| Type of Animal | Echinodermata |
| Range | Worldwide |
These animals are found in the oceans of many countries. They use their quills to protect themselves from predators, as well as for movement. One of the most noticeable features of sea urchins is the spines that cover their bodies. These spines make them almost impossible to grab and hold onto. While sea urchins don’t have many predators, they are hunted by large fish and other animals.
Related Article: Do Sea Urchin Sting?
20. Somali Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Atelerix sclateri |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Somalia and Somaliland |
The Somali hedgehog is a small, spiny mammal found in the Horn of Africa. Unlike most other hedgehogs, which have sharp, pointy quills for defense against predators, the Somali hedgehog’s quills are long and bristly. These quills help to keep the animal warm by trapping air close to its body, helping it to maintain a stable body temperature even in cold weather.
The Somali hedgehog is also known for its distinctive coloration, with brown quills and black spines along its back. This helps the animal to blend in with its surroundings, making it less visible to predators. In addition, the Somali hedgehog has long claws that allow it to dig burrows and escape underground when threatened.
21. Southern African Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Atelerix frontalis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | throughout southern Africa |
The Southern African Hedgehog is a small, spiny animal that can be found in fields and forests across southern Africa. Its quills are very sharp and pointy, allowing them to pierce the skin of predators like snakes or other large animals.
22. Southern White-breasted Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Erinaceus concolor |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Eastern Europe and Southwestern Asia |
These hedgehogs are found in Africa and have quills that are up to 2 inches long. The quills on their back are white with black tips, while the quills on their belly are all black. These quills are used for defense and help the hedgehog camouflage itself from predators.
23. Tenrecs
| Scientific Name | Tenrecidae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Madagascar |
These small, spiny mammals are found in Africa and Madagascar. They have quills that range in size from 1 to 3 inches (2.5-7.6 cm). The quills on their backs are used for defense, while the shorter quills on their sides and legs help the tenrec camouflage itself in its forest habitat.
Conclusion
Quills are a natural defense for many animals. These sharp, barbed needles can deter predators or even injure them. Porcupines and hedgehogs are two of the most well-known creatures with quills, but there are other species that use them for protection as well. Some of these animals have long quills, while others have shorter, hair-like quills.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.