Pangolin
Pangolins are fascinating creatures that are known for their unique physical features and elusive nature. They are mammals belonging to the family Manidae and are native to parts of Africa and Asia. These scaly creatures are also known as scaly anteaters due to their diet, which mainly consists of ants and termites. Unfortunately, pangolins have become one of the most trafficked animals in the world, and their populations have drastically decreased due to poaching and habitat loss.
Physical Characteristics
Pangolins are unique mammals that have several distinct physical characteristics that set them apart from other animals. One of the most distinctive features of pangolins is their scaly exterior, which is made up of hard, keratinous scales. These scales are similar in appearance to armor plating and act as a protective barrier against predators.
Pangolins have a long, narrow snout that is used to locate their prey. They also have a long, sticky tongue that can extend up to 16 inches, allowing them to capture ants and termites with ease. Their tongue is covered in a sticky saliva that helps them capture their prey and is capable of rapidly reeling back into the mouth.
Pangolins have a small head and short legs, which makes them well-adapted to digging. They have sharp, curved claws on their forefeet that they use to dig into the soil and tear into termite mounds and ant nests. Their hind feet are also equipped with claws but are used for climbing trees and branches.
Pangolins have a thick, muscular tail that can be used for defense against predators. When threatened, they will curl up into a ball, using their tough scales and tail to protect their vulnerable belly and limbs. They can also emit a foul-smelling secretion from their anal glands as a defensive mechanism.
Overall, the physical characteristics of pangolins are adapted for their unique lifestyle as insectivores that dig and climb to capture their prey and protect themselves from predators.
Habitat and Distribution
Pangolins are found in parts of Africa and Asia, including India, Southeast Asia, and parts of China. They live in a range of habitats, including grasslands, forests, and savannas. Pangolins are nocturnal and spend most of their time in burrows and trees. They are solitary animals and only come together during mating season.
Diet
Pangolins are insectivores and primarily feed on ants and termites. They use their keen sense of smell to locate their prey, which they then capture using their long, sticky tongue. Pangolins can consume up to 70 million insects in a single year, making them a vital part of their ecosystem.
Threats and Conservation
Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world, with their meat and scales being highly sought after in traditional Chinese medicine. The demand for pangolins has led to a drastic decline in their populations, with some species being classified as critically endangered. Habitat loss is also a significant threat to pangolins, as their forest and grassland habitats are being destroyed due to deforestation and agriculture.
Conservation efforts are underway to protect pangolins from extinction. Some countries have banned the trade and consumption of pangolins, and conservation organizations are working to raise awareness about the importance of protecting these animals. Researchers are also working to breed pangolins in captivity, with the hope of releasing them back into the wild.
In conclusion, pangolins are remarkable animals that play an essential role in their ecosystem. Unfortunately, their populations are declining due to human activities, and urgent action is needed to protect these creatures from extinction.
About the Creator
How Japan saved its biggest city from collapse
400 years ago, the place we now call Tokyo was known as Edo. It was already one of the largest cities in the world, with almost 1 million people living there. But the city was close to a big ecological problem. Years of cutting too many trees had caused heavy deforestation. Edo now had shortages of wood, bad soil erosion, and floods that often happened. These problems put food supplies in danger. However, in just a few decades, Edo changed a lot and became one of the most sustainable and smart cities ever in history. So, how did this city that wasted almost nothing come to be? In 1467, Japan started a long time of bloody civil wars that went on for more than 100 years. But in 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu won against his enemy warlords and brought Japan under one rule. This started the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled from 1603 to 1867. During this time, Ieyasu and the later shoguns made big changes that affected Japan's money system, land, and way of life. The shoguns were worried about growing power from other countries. So, they made very strict rules on contact with the outside world. They stopped foreign traders from coming in, and Japanese people could hardly leave the country. Because imports dropped suddenly, the Tokugawa shoguns worked hard to increase things made inside Japan. At the same time, they reduced use and waste. These ideas were not completely new. They came from the Buddhist idea called mottainai, which means not wasting things and being happy with "just enough." The shoguns saw how much damage had happened to the forests around the capital, Edo. So, they made rules to limit cutting trees and started big programs to plant new forests. Villagers had to plant millions of trees at first, and later they got paid to do it. To reduce the need for wood, they brought in strict rules for sharing timber. Houses were built with standard wooden parts that could be taken apart and used again. Soon, whole businesses grew up to use the city's waste and turn it into something useful. People used farm waste, like rice straw, to make rope and packing things. Drops of candle wax were collected and made into new candles. Craftsmen fixed old umbrellas and worn sandals instead of throwing them away. Even human waste was collected and used as fertilizer for fields. Inside homes, families learned ways to reuse or change old things instead of throwing them out. Kimonos were mended again and again. When the cloth became too old to fix, it was used to cover futons. Then it was cut into diapers or cleaning rags. Finally, the last bits were burned as fuel. Artisans fixed broken pottery with kintsugi. They joined the pieces with lacquer and painted gold along the cracks, making them beautiful. A tradition called boro grew up. People sewed bits of old cloth together to make pretty patched clothes. These were passed down in families for many years. At the same time, poetry, theater, and books became very popular. People also studied Chinese Confucian ideas and some European science books. These were allowed in Japan, even though the writers themselves were not welcome. But the Tokugawa period had problems too. There were very strict laws, and the government ruled in a strong, controlling way. It was a feudal society with big differences between rich and poor. Most farmers (peasants) had to pay a heavy rice tax called nengu to their local lords, called daimyo. This tax was often very hard for them. By the second half of the 1800s, prices went up a lot (inflation), which made the economy weak. Outside pressures also grew, like when the United States used warships to force Japan to open up. All this made Japan start trading with foreign countries again. In the end, it led to the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate. Even with these problems, this time in history teaches us a strong lesson. Edo changed from a city almost destroyed by nature problems to a lively center of culture. It shows that broken things can be fixed, and fixing them can make something even more beautiful. Today, only about 7% of the world's economy is circular (reuse and recycle). Edo's story reminds us that we can build economies based on using limited things carefully, not on buying more and throwing away.Follow for more stories like this.
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