Canada porcupine

7.9

A large North American animal with sharp quills hidden in coarse fur that climbs trees and gnaws wood for salt

noun
/ˈkænədə ˈpɔrkəˌpaɪn/

: puercoespín canadiense

We spotted a Canada porcupine gnawing on the wooden porch in search of salt.

Examples

Unlike other rodents, the Canada porcupine often climbs trees to feed on bark and leaves.
The Canada porcupine is known for its barbed quills, which it uses to defend itself from predators.
Look at that Canada porcupine climbing the tree!
The Canada porcupine is often found in forests.
We spotted a Canada porcupine gnawing on the wooden porch in search of salt.
Unlike other rodents, the Canada porcupine often climbs trees to feed on bark and leaves.
The Canada porcupine is known for its barbed quills, which it uses to defend itself from predators.

Synonyms

Erethizon dorsatum

vsCanada porcupine

Specialized

9.9

A large North American porcupine with sharp quills that protect it

is the common name used for that large northeastern North American rodent

Surface Forms

Canada porcupine singular

Canada porcupines plural

Morphology

Canada + porcupine

The meaning is directly and compositionally derivable as a porcupine associated with Canada (i.e., a species or individual from that country). This country + animal naming pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows standard noun compounding, so a B1 learner who knows 'Canada' and 'porcupine' will understand it.

Etymology

Canada porcupine joins the place Canada and the animal porcupine. It helps you picture a large, spiky animal that lives mainly in Canadian forests, so the name refers to that specific porcupine species.