Laurentian porcupine (SciiFii)

The Laurentian porcupine (Erethizodon laurentinus) is a species of giant porcupine that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the boreal forests of eastern and northeastern North America to help boost biodiversity. The closest living relative of the Laurentian porcupine is the North American common porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). The Laurentian porcupine is the largest species of porcupine, growing to be about 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) on average, and they can sometimes grow as large as 2.2 meters (7.2 feet). The weight of the Laurentian porcupine can vary from 90 kilograms (198 lb) to 125 kilograms (276 lb). Like other porcupines, it has rows of quills that are used for defense, but due to the animal's larger size, the quills aren't as important for the animal so it has less quills. Instead, it has large claws on its forelimbs, which are, not only used for defense against predators, but also to pull down branches for food. The Laurentian porcupine is a herbivore that primarily feeds on leaves, pine needles, nuts, pinecones, and shrubs, filling the similar ecological niche to the ground sloths from elsewhere in North America, but it can also feed on fruits to supplement its diet. The Laurentian porcupine is a social animal that lives in herds consisting of up to about 15 individuals at a time. The conservation status of the Laurentian porcupine is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the Laurentian porcupine's wide range.