Hi Steemit family!
Today I bring you something that after the platypus has left me stunned, it is nothing more and nothing less than the only mammal with scales on the planet, is called Pangolin, its peculiar appearance has given many descriptions as an artichoke with legs, or its resemblance to an anteater, but with scales or simple humanoid that along with kangaroos and some primates can stand on their two hind legs.
Their scales are very similar to those of snakes or fish, but in reality, their shells are of bone origin. Its protection is only the upper part of its body, revealing its head, throat, and abdomen when this under threat is rolled up to protect itself from bites or stings of other predators.
Its head is very small compared to its body, its mouth is tubular and toothless, and has a huge tongue with constant salivation due to powerful salivary glands, its tongue is used to eat anthills and termites. This being its basic diet.
Its tongue is so long that it is attached to a bone located in the pelvis. That remains rolled up while it is not using it, this subject line in a species of sack or rather we say pocket inside the throat, for that reason this incredible animal cannot emit grunts or communicate by sounds but rather by an excellent chemical system that produces signals that allow him to communicate of effective way with other companions. His hearing is very bad accompanied by his vision, so his excellent smell super developed use it in multiple ways.
Many years ago scientists had thought that the Pangolin was related to the anteater and other types of bears, but after many studies were discovered that its evolution is convergent, let's say that it happens when certain species have similar eating habits and evolution similarly modifies their body, is a complete biological parallel.
There are about 8 species of Pangolins distributed between Asia and Africa, to be more specific, four African and four Asian. The differences are noticeable from one species to another due to its size, the larger the Pangolín, the more terrestrial its way of life, and the smaller ones are species that weigh up to 2 kg and their lifestyle is limited to trees.
Their biological order has been classified as Pholidota. So officially this animal is not related to any bear species or anteaters.
The Pangolins, are solitary and very elusive animals although poachers, receive up to $1000 per kilogram of their meat, little is known about this noble creature, very little is known even of its mating form, how long its gestation lasts. As they are nocturnal, it is more difficult to come across one of them.
They are frequently hunted for two reasons, their meat and the supposed healing powers of their scales. In both Asia and Africa, they are hunted and a kilogram of meat can cost up to $3,000 in Africa, which is paid for by tourists going on business trips. Their scales are used in Vietnamese medicine, as an excellent invigorator, to cure ulcers, and they even prescribe them as an alternative cure for cancer or arthritis.
The healing properties of nails are not so far from being real, as all nails have a high percentage of keratin protein, which is used in many cultures as an effective treatment for deadly diseases such as cancer.
Although today there are treaties from many Asian and African countries not to marry pangolins, they are still threatened by a market that does not seem to disappear but is stronger than ever.
Thank you for reading
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