Answer: Porcupine quill

What you're looking at

A porcupine quill is a sharp, barbed spine that covers the body of a porcupine, one of North America's most recognizable rodents. You'd normally see these quills from a safe distance as they cover the animal's back, sides, and tail, making the porcupine appear round and spiky when threatened or at rest.

When magnified extremely close, a porcupine quill reveals a complex structure with fine barbs running along its length and a smooth, almost waxy surface that catches light in unexpected ways. The extreme zoom removes all context, making it hard to recognise as anything more than an abstract pattern of texture and shine, rather than the fearsome defensive weapon it truly is.

Look for fine parallel barbs or ridges running along a smooth, tapered surface with a slightly translucent or glossy appearance.

How players did

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