* Defense: Quills are their primary defense mechanism. They are sharp, barbed, and easily detached, making them a formidable deterrent to predators.
* Protection: Quills also protect the porcupine's skin from injuries.
* Thermoregulation: Quills play a role in regulating body temperature, helping porcupines stay warm in cold weather.
While a porcupine could theoretically survive a minor quill loss, losing a significant portion of their quills would leave them highly vulnerable to predators and would likely lead to a decrease in their quality of life.