Pangolin
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
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The pangolin is a small insectivore found in tropical regions of Africa and Asia. They are perhaps best known for their large protective scales. It spends most of it’s time in the day under ground and at night hunting and foraging for food. Like many animals today, surviving man is one of it’s primary hardships.
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Anatomy
Anatomy The pangolin is a small mammal that is covered in plates of amour. These little plates cover their entire body. They are made of a substance called keratin the same stuff our finger nails and hair are made of. These plates act as a source of protection and are very sharp. The pangolin can roll into a ball much like an armadillo to protect it’s soft inter body. They also can excrete a bad smelling liquid just like a skunk. Despite the many ways of protection they carry we still kill them. Pangolins have a highly developed sense of smell for finding food and detecting danger and escaping from almost everything. The pangolin is closely related to armadillos and ant eaters.
The Pangolin has no teeth and is therefore benefited by having a very long tongue used for eating termites and ants. To help with the extraction of termites and ants the pangolin is fitted with enormous digging claws. Claws are also used for protection and climbing trees. Pangolins were created for the things they eat. Their diet consist of ants, termites and other small insects they can catch with their sticky tongue. They even can rip tree bark from a tree to find whatever edibles it contains. [1]
Reproduction
The female pangolin gives birth to one offspring after one hundred and thirty days of gestation. She carries her young in her tail for protection. For a while after birth the baby pangolins scales are soft and not fully developed. They are sometimes hidden underground until they are fully ready to face the enumerable dangers of the world. The mother stops giving milk after two years by then the pangolin will be almost completely mature. They are born blind and crawl rather than walk. Little is known of birth in pangolins because there are so few left and the population is steadily decreasing.[2] The rarest pangolin breeding is that of a Giant Pangolin it has had two birth records in captivity that are known. Females seem to be very protective of their young and have been known to kill intruding animals. Sparring has been reported between males for females. It seems to depend mostly on size and aggression. Pangolins breed slowly and not many are produced.[3]
Ecology
Pangolins are found all over Africa .Three types of pangolins are found in Africa the Giant Pangolin, the Common Pangolin and the Tree Pangolin. The Common Pangolin is found in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and in more northern areas of Africa. This is the perfect are because frost doesn’t put the insects into hibernation and there is enough food all year.
The Tree Pangolin is found in heavily wooded areas of Africa where it can hide in the tree’s. It’s food is ants and other insects in the forest and that dwell in tree’s.
The Giant Pangolin is found in and on the ground in the moist area’s of Africa where there is plenty of grass and fields to dwell in. It’s main food source is termites and ants. It can sit on it’s tail and literally kick and punch the mound to pieces. The pangolin is nocturnal and is found during the day up to eleven feet below ground level.[4]
In Great Demand
Pangolins are killed and eaten in all parts of the world. They are considered a delicacy in china. Meat from a pangolin runs at a high price, the price including their lives. The meat is good but the scales are supposed to be good for different illnesses and other things. The word "pangolin" means "rolling up into a ball" unfortunately this does not protect them from being trapped and shot. The pangolin now is being illegally transported and being sold for large sums of money. They are also used for purses and, shoes and other items. The Chinese believe the scales hold magic like powers and that they act a natural painkillers. If something is not done soon the population of pangolins could perish and will be never to be seen again. It’s important that we respect and take care of the creation God has given us. [5]
Gallery
 Pangolin |
 Pangolin |
 Tree pangolin |
 Pangolin |
References
- Wikipedia Multiple.
- Ecology Southern African Places
- Reproduction America Zoo
- Reproduction Animal Diversity
- Reproduction Animal Diversity
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