The pangolin is fascinating. Do you know ___1___
25-cm tongue is the longest among mammals ? Like ___2___
anteaters, it is toothless. It ___3___
an enormous salivary gland in its chest to lubricate its tongue
with sticky ant-catching saliva.
The pangolin has a voracious appetite, eating approximately
200,000 ants per meal. It is also a master of defence. When
threatened, it rolls ___4___
a ball with its tail covering the belly and head, so that only
its razor-sharp scales are exposed. It can even emit smelly
acid.
It saddens to know that this amazing animal ___5___.
It is no match for humans. The number of pangolins has plummeted
as their scales are used in ___6___
remedies to treat a host of ailments. In southern China,
pangolin meat is a popular restaurant delicacy, despite a
worldwide ___7___ on its
trade. |