different between echidna vs porcupine

English

Etymology

Debated, but probably from Ancient Greek ?????? (ékhidna, “snake, viper”) via Latin. Compare ?????? (ekhînos, “hedgehog, etc.”). However, this sense is problematic (unless it is a reference to the ant-eating tongue). The name perhaps belongs to Latin echinus (“sea urchin, hedgehog”) from the aforementioned Ancient Greek term's alternate sense of "sea-urchin" (also "sharp points"), which Watkins explains as "snake-eater", from ???? (ékhis, “snake”), though it may actually be from Proto-Indo-European *h?é??is (“hedgehog, hedgehog-like animals”). The 1810 Encyclopaedia Britannica deduces thus the animal's alternative name as "porcupine ant-eater".

Alternatively, and perhaps more likely, the name refers to Echidna as the name of a serpent-nymph in Greek mythology, "a beautiful woman in the upper part of her body; but instead of legs and feet, she had from the waist downward, the form of a serpent", in which case the animal was named for its mixed features (early naturalists doubted whether it was a mammal or amphibian). Ultimately, the etymology may be from a synthesis of all the roots above. (From OED.)

Pronunciation

• enPR: ?k?dnä, IPA^(key): /??k?dn?/

Noun

echidna (plural echidnas or echidnae)

1. Any of the species of small spined monotremes in family Tachyglossidae, the four extant species of which are found in Australia and southern New Guinea.

Synonyms

• (species of Tachyglossidae): spiny anteater, bunning

Derived terms

• Attenborough's long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi)
• Barton's long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bartoni)
• cyclops long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi)
• eastern long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bartoni)
• long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus)
• short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus)
• short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
• Sir David's long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi)
• western long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijni)

Translations

See also

• Tachyglossidae
• Tachyglossus
• Zaglossus
• piggibilla
• puggle

Anagrams

• chained

Italian

Noun

echidna f (plural echidne)

1. echidna

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [e?kidna]

Noun

echidna f

1. definite nominative/accusative singular of echidn?

English

Alternative forms

• porpentine, porpintine (archaic alterations of porcupine)

Etymology

From Middle English porke despyne, from Old French porc-espin, from Latin porcus (“pig”) + spinus (“spine”), hence also spine pig. Cognate with Spanish puercoespín, Italian porcospino.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p??(?)kj??pa?n/

Noun

porcupine (plural porcupines)

1. Any of several rodents of either of the taxonomic families Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) or Erethizontidae (New World porcupines), both from the infraorder Hystricognathi, noted for their sharp spines or quills, which are raised when the animal is attacked or surprised.
   • 1981, Adolph Murie, The Grizzlies of Mount McKinley, page 218,

     I have no evidence of grizzlies killing porcupines or vice versa. However, occasionally there is contact and sometimes a grizzly is injured or a porcupine killed, but the latter is rare.

   • 2010, Richard Potts, Early Hominid Activities at Olduvai, page 81,

     In particular, porcupines, hyenas, and leopards are known in Africa to transport bones to particular places.

   • 2011, John P. Rafferty, Rats, Bats, and Xenarthrans, page 113,

     Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) have quills embedded in clusters, whereas in New World porcupines (Erethizontidae) single quills are interspersed with bristles, underfur, and hair. No porcupine can throw its quills, but they detach easily and will remain embedded in an attacker.

Synonyms

• (any species of Hystricidae or Erethizontidae): spine pig, porky

Hyponyms

• (any species of Erethizontidae): porcupette (baby porcupine)

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• echidna
• hedgehog
• spiny anteater
• urchin
• urson (Erethizon dorsatum)