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National Zoo Names Baby Porcupine via Twitter Poll

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The Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. has named its one-month-old porcupine “Quilliam,” after holding a public poll over Twitter.

A total of 2,486 votes were cast by Twitter users for the names Quilliam, Quillson, Prickles, and Gonzo that were offered as options.

The museum noted in its tweet that “Quilly McQuillface” was not an alternative. Garnering 43 percent of the votes, Quilliam won the race.

“We’ll get right to the point: Our @NationalZoo porcupette’s name will be Quilliam! Thanks to all who voted and while we know we said no write-ins, shout-out to all of you who suggested quill․i․am,” the Smithsonian announced on Friday.

The baby porcupine was born at the Zoo on the night of November 5 to the two-year-old prehensile-tailed porcupine Beatrix and Quillbur, an adult male member of the same species.

The Zoo usually names animals within two months after their birth.

Prehensile-tailed porcupines are known for grasping tree branches by using their long tails and being nocturnal. They also “have internal sex organs, which can make it difficult to determine if a porcupette is a male or female for six months or more,” according to the Zoo’s website.

The species is native to South America and its members have rigid quills with soft hair in between. They typically eat leaves, flowers, shoots and other vegetation.

Visitors to the National Zoo can see the porcupette, along with its family in the Small Mammal House.

 

National Zoo Welcomes Newborn ‘Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine’

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