Interesting Facts About Pangolins – Webtekno

When we say mammals, we all think of a few animals with common characteristics. So, among the creatures that come to your mind, is there a species with skin covered with scales that crawls on the ground and eats insects? Probably not, because there is a living creature with all these features. pangolin is not well known, Even if it is known, some basic features such as being a mammal are never heard of.

Pangolins are a species that lives in Asia and Africa. It is the only mammal whose skin is covered with scales. Unfortunately, this unique feature also attracts the attention of poachers. The illegal sales price of pangolins, whose different species living in different regions are systematically hunted by poachers, is increasing day by day. This means that soon all that will be left of them will be content similar to what you are reading now.

Interesting information about pangolins:

• He has a unique armor.
• The name pangolin comes from the defensive technique they employ.
• They eat tens of millions of insects every year.
• There are eight different known species of pangolin.
• They may be longer than you think.
• Pangolins are a favorite of poachers.
• They give birth to a single offspring at each birth.
• Pangolins will soon disappear completely.

He has a unique armor:

Every creature living in the wild has some kind of self-defense mechanism. Pangolins carry their defense mechanisms on their backs. Pangolin scales, which consist of the keratin substance that forms our nails and hair, rhinos’ horns, whales’ teeth, and predators’ claws, provide strong protection to these creatures. Except for a small area on its belly, the pangolin’s entire body is under the protection of these strong scales.

The name pangolin comes from the defensive technique they employ:

The entire body of pangolins is covered with protective scales, except their abdomen. Because They protect their abdomen when they feel danger. When pangolins are touched, caught, or feel threatened in any way, they immediately roll up into a ball to cover their head, belly, and front legs. It is possible to attack with its tail while in this position. His defensive movement was described with the word ‘penggulung’, which means ‘cylinder’ in Malay language, and this is how the name pangolin we use today emerged. Pangolins are also called ‘scaly anteaters’ because they eat ants.

They eat tens of millions of insects every year:

Pangolins’ number one feeding choice is insects and larvae. They can even hunt deep-seated insects with special digging techniques. It is estimated that pangolins eat approximately 70 million insects a year, or an average of 200 thousand insects a day. Despite such intense consumption, pangolins do not cause any harm to the ecosystem, on the contrary, they have benefits. Pangolins, which especially like to dig termite and ant nests and eat them, help the compacted soil receive the necessary water and nutrients by aerating the soil. The soil dug by the pangolin becomes more fertile. This creates food and a home for other creatures.

There are eight different known species of pangolin:

Pangolins, scaly mammals belonging to the order Ethenea There are eight different known species. Four of the pangolin species live in different parts of Asia, and the other four live in different parts of Africa. According to their habitats, the species are as follows:

• Pangolins living in Africa:
  • black-bellied pangolin
  • White-bellied pangolin
  • giant ground pangolin
  • Temminck’s ground pangolin
• Pangolins living in Asia:
  • indian pangolin
  • philippine pangolin
  • sunda pangolin
  • chinese pangolin

Its dimensions may be longer than you think:

The sizes of pangolins vary depending on their species. For example While Indian pangolins have a length ranging from 84 to 122 cm Chinese pangolins have a height ranging from 48 to 58 cm. Sunda pangolins, which can reach a length of 122 cm, weigh 10 kilograms, Indian pangolins weigh 16 kilograms, and Chinese pangolins weigh 7 kilograms.

Another striking detail about pangolin sizes is their tongue and scale weight. Although it varies depending on the species The weight of a pangolin’s scaly skin accounts for approximately 20 percent of its total weight. The sticky tongue in their toothless mouths can reach a distance of 40 cm when fully extended. Considering that a Chinese pangolin extends its tongue in this way, it means that its tongue can reach a length as long as itself.

Pangolins are a favorite of poachers:

Pangolins are the most popular hunting animals in the countries where they are found. There are three main reasons for this: superstitions, medicine making and culinary culture. Pangolins living in Africa are hunted because they are delicious, some of their parts are used as medicine and in some rituals. Pangolins living in Asia are also used in traditional medicines, especially in China and Vietnam. These regions also consider pangolin meat to be quite delicious.

They give birth to a single offspring at each birth:

Pangolins reach sexual maturity when they are approximately 2 years old. At the end of a pregnancy period ranging from 69 to 150 days The mother pangolin gives birth to only one cub. These cubs, which weigh between 8 and 450 grams, are fed with mother’s milk for three months. When baby pangolins are born, their skin is covered with weak scales. As they are fed with breast milk, their scales soon harden and begin to provide protection.

Pangolins will soon disappear completely:

All eight pangolin species known to live in Africa and Asia are in danger of extinction. Although they are banned from being international trade products Poachers still continue to hunt pangolins unstoppably. It is not even known exactly how many pangolins remain in the wild, which are considered ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Also known as scaly anteaters Pangolins are the only scaly mammal species We talked about interesting information, some of which you have heard for the first time. Even if you protect your entire body with natural armor, you cannot escape nature’s most dangerous creature.

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