The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium has two new landlubbers in its menagerie: Two prehensile-tailed porcupines.
Ilsa, a 2-1/2-year-old female, and Darwin, a 1-1/2-year-old male, are the newest residents of the Draper aquarium’s Journey to South America exhibit, aquarium officials said in a statement. The animals made their public debut Wednesday.
The porcupines were born in a zoo in Michigan. The species is native to South American rainforests. They like to eat fruit, vegetables, flowers, shoots, and leaves. Their long, agile tail can support the animal’s entire weight, and allows them to keep their balance in trees as they climb.
Porcupines do not shoot their quills, like the popular myth, but the quills detach when they land in the skin of a predator.
The aquarium is open daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are: $19.95 for adults; $16.95 for teens, military, students and seniors; $14.95 for children; and free for kids 2 and under. The aquarium is located at 12033 Lone Peak Parkway in Draper.
