"Ancient Florida Fossil Reveals 10-Million-Year-Old Porcupine Mystery"

A nearly complete porcupine skeleton found in Florida has helped resolve a long-standing debate about the evolutionary history of North American porcupines. The study, published in Current Biology, reveals that these porcupines have a complex ancestry that likely began before the formation of the Isthmus of Panama. The fossil shows traits of both North and South American porcupines, suggesting a more intricate evolutionary path than previously thought.