Interesting facts about the pangolin

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In the Malay language the name of this animal be translated as "hiding the ball". Meet the pangolin is possible in Africa and South-East Asia. This animal is also not infrequently called the lizard, refers to placental mammals. The pangolin looks something like an anteater. But the difference is very significant: the pangolin has a very impressive powerful armor, which consists of large and very hard Horny plates. This is necessary to protect the animal in case of danger the pangolin rolls up into a ball, and become protected from all sides.

In the world today, scientists counted only eight species of this animal, each species has its own unique feature. Pangolin is distinguished by a long tail, it is worth noting that this part of the body is quite characteristic, and it is not seldom exceeds the length of the whole body. And here is the very body of the pangolin, beginning from the middle of the muzzle, and ending with the tip of the tail, cover the rows of Horny scales. Their color can vary from yellow-gray to red-brown. It would seem that these hard scales prevent the animal, but no, they are arranged so that they allow without any obstacles in case of danger, immediately curl into a ball. The nose of the animal, as well as his legs from the inner side and abdomen, a reliable protection of the deprived, and covered with short fur. The scales have an unusual shape: the back edge sharpened. It so happens that some scales may fade, but its place is immediately new. Lifetime number of scales on the body of the pangolin remains unchanged.

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These unusual Zverkov very picky with food: eat only ants and termites. You can make the assumption that this makes them look like anteaters. They have also the muzzle is slightly extended forward and mouth opening is very small. All carnivorous animals have a long tongue and very sticky. Its length can reach up to 40 cm. As such the teeth, pangolins have not. Instead, they have Horny growths, which are located on the walls of the stomach. They perform the same function as the teeth. Pangolin also helps my digestive system, occasionally swallowing pebbles, which when released in the stomach, contribute to the grinding of food. The weight of the pangolin ranges from 4.5 kilograms to 27 kilograms. The legs are very powerful, five-fingered, endowed with large claws.

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Method of hunting among these unusual animals are also very unusual. Tend not to spend a lot of time hunting, pangolins just tear the nests with their powerful paws, then dipped in his tongue. Then you just have to wait until sticky tongue will stick scatter the ants and tighten the language in oral cavity. It's simple. However, this is not the only way of getting food. Few people know that the taste of saliva and her scent to attract ants. Pangolin can just sit and drool in anticipation when the food will come to him. Feelings such as sight and hearing of pangolins are poorly developed. The small size of the eyes and cover the eyelids, providing protection from future bites of food. But the smell of pangolins can only envy.

There have been occasions when scientists have found instances, in the stomach which were discovered up to 2 kilograms of insects! It is worth noting that to keep an animal like a pangolin in the home is very difficult, because the menu is quite monotonous.

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Incidentally, the anthill for animals is not only a source of food. With it, pangolins are cleared from parasites. To do this, just need to sit near the destroyed anthill and wait for the angry ants will crawl under the scales apart and start to bite. Thus, the ants nourish the skin of the pangolin formic acid. Thus the skin is cleaned. After the animal simply presses their scales to the body and crushes the ants.

This animal prefers night time to Wake up. Daytime pangolins spend in sleep. Prefer to sleep either in burrows or in the hollows of trees. Many species are highly comfortable feel on the trees and fine him move, but not too fast – maximum speed is 5 kilometers per hour. Because the animal in case of danger cannot escape, comes to the rescue of the scales: he immediately rolled into a ball and head covers tail. To straighten this tangled only large and powerful beast, like a leopard. However, the predator can get a stream of sharp stink that pangolins can be released from the anal glands.

Pangolins breed only in the winter, only once a year. Pregnancy takes place over 4 – 5 months. The offspring is born well developed, however, is very smooth. Instead, their body is covered with bristles, very soft, but after a couple days they begin to rapidly harden. The first months of life babies are fed with mother's milk. If the child or threatened the mother rolled into a ball, covering the child with his body.

All pangolins are divided into two types: African and Asian.

The Asian are: Javanese pangolin, Philippine pangolin, bat eared pangolin and Indian pangolin.

To the African: white-bellied pangolin, long-tailed pangolin, steppe pangolin, and giant pangolin.

Pangolin, there are not very many. People are shooting at them, since the appearance of this animal is quite unusual. Local catch them for meat, which tastes like pork. Another reason lies in the scales and in the skin as they have healing properties, in that, at least, convinced the local population.

Source: mif-facts.com.ua