In a remarkable breakthrough, a rare discovery in Florida has shed new light on the evolutionary timeline of North America’s solitary porcupine species. Evolutionary puzzle of North America’s porcupineFor years, the evolutionary history of North America’s lone porcupine has puzzled scientists. While Central and South America boast 16 porcupine species, North America has just one. Their journey to South America is marked as a significant event in mammalian history, occurring when the continents of Africa and South America were much closer together, possibly involving rafting across oceans. Ancient origins of North America’s porcupinesThe analysis of the Florida skeleton highlighted both similarities and differences with modern North American porcupines, suggesting a complex evolutionary history that predates the formation of the Isthmus of Panama.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 30, 2024 12:57 UTC