What is this close-up picture? (WotsThat: Porcupine quill)

Question

What object is shown in this zoomed-in close-up photo?

TalonMist · Accepted Answer

Porcupine quill. Porcupine quills are actually modified hairs with tiny barbed tips that make them nearly impossible to pull out straight, so they naturally work their way deeper into flesh over time if not removed carefully. Even more wild is that porcupines can't actually shoot their quills like arrows—that's a total myth—but the quills detach so easily that it just feels like they flew at you when a porcupine swings its tail.

Answer: Porcupine quill

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