North American Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, 74.5 - 130 cm. / 2.6 - 3.11 ft. Porcupines have very poor eyesight and are the only North American Mammal with quills. The only North American Mammal with antibiotics in its skin to prevent infection from an accidental quill stick caused from falling out of a tree, evidently a common occurrence when attempting to reach tender buds on the ends of branches. One of my favorite images, mostly lucky. Although, I did demand that the driver stop the vehicle! Photographed in June 2007.
One of my favorite shots. "I hate tourists!"
Richardson Highway, Denali Borough, Alaska, United States.
©bryanjsmith.
Tags: Mammals Porcupine North American Porcupine Wildlife of Alaska Mammals of North America Erethizontidae Wild Animals Erethizon dorsatum
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Woodchuck, Groundhog, Whistlepig, Monax, Thickwood Badger, Marmota monax, 41 - 67 cm. / 16 - 26 in. COMMON. Open country and woodland edges, rarely far from burrow entrance.
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary (Audubon), Essex County, Massachusetts, United States.
©bryanjsmith.
Tags: Marmot Woodchuck Marmota monax Groundhog Whistlepig Thickwood Badger Monax Mammals
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Leopard, Panthera pardus, 1.6 - 2.1 m / 5.25 - 6.89 ft. Females are considerably smaller than males. Extremely widely distributed in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. By far the most successful of the large cats with a very wide habitat tolerance.
Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.
©bryanjsmith.
Tags: Leopard Panthera pardus Cats Family Felidae Mammals of Africa ©bryanjsmith
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Swamp Deer, Barasingha, Rucervus duvaucelii, SH 110 - 120 cm. / 44 - 46 in. and total length 180 cm. / 6 ft. VULNERABLE. Fragmented and isolated populations in flat and undulating grasslands, forest outskirts and sometimes in open forest.
Kazaringa National Park, Assam Province, India.
©bryanjsmith.
Tags: Swamp Deer Barasingha Rucervus duvaucelii True Deer CERVIDAE Mammals of India ©bryanjsmith
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Short-beaked Echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus, race setosus, 30 - 40 cm. / 12 - 18 in. / 2 - 7 kg / 4.4 - 15.4 lbs. This race in Tasmania is smaller than those on the mainland. Monotremes are the only mammals to lay eggs. That snout is leathery, keratinized and covered in mechano- and thermo-receptors for analyzing the surrounding environment. When spotted, if you slowly circle around to the side, the echidna might not roll up to protect its underside.
Tasmania, Australia.
©bryanjsmith.
Tags: Monotremes Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossidae Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus. Tachyglossus aculeatus ©bryanjsmith
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