Spine (zoology)

In a zoological context, spines are hard, needle-like anatomical structures found in both vertebrate and invertebrate species. The spines of most spiny mammals are modified hairs, with a spongy center covered in a thick, hard layer of keratin and a sharp, sometimes barbed tip.

Occurrence

Mammals

Spines in mammals include the prickles of

Many mammalian species, like cats and fossas,^[1][2] also have penile spines.

The Mesozoic

Spines are found in the

The spine of some animals are capable of injecting venom. In the case of some large species of stingray, a puncture with the barbed spine and the accompanying venom has occasionally been fatal to humans.

Animals such as porcupines are considered aposematic, because their spines warn predators that they are dangerous and potentially toxic.^[5] Porcupines rattle their quills as a warning to predators, much like rattlesnakes.^[5]

Treating injuries caused by spines

Because many species of fish and invertebrates carry venom within their spines, a rule of thumb is to treat every injury as if it were a snake bite. Venom can cause intense pain, and can sometimes result in death if left untreated.^[6]

On the other hand, being pricked by a porcupine quill is not dangerous, and the quills are not poisonous. The quill can be removed by gently but firmly pulling it out of the skin. The barbed tip sometimes breaks off, but it works its way out through the skin over time.^[7]

Human uses

Common uses for animal spines include:

• Jewelry
  • Bracelets, earrings, and necklaces made from these spines are very common
  • Tribes from around the world use porcupine quills as jewelry for their body modification i.e. through the nose
• Pens
  • Some of the earliest pens were made from quills
• Quillwork, a form of textile embellishment traditionally practiced by Indigenous peoples of North America that employs the quills of porcupines as an aesthetic element

Sometimes :

• Brush

References