The American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) does not hibernate. This arboreal rodent lives in North America, a region of the world where temperatures can reach -58°F in winter. Among the twenty species of porcupines in the world, including the common porcupine and the North African crested porcupine, it is the one that resists the coldest temperatures. The American porcupine relies on several tricks to survive the cold. As winter approaches, it begins a high-calorific diet to gain weight. It increases its consumption of shrubs and other plants. The bigger it is, the hotter it is. The 30,000 quills, which cover its body, also protect it from negative temperatures.