Category: Science
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Long-tailed pangolin, Manis tetradactyla, have long prehensile tails that make up almost two-thirds of their total length, therefore having the longest tails and shortest bodies of the Pangolins, the only group of known mammals having keratin scales. They range in size from 30 to 40cm in length and 2 to 3 kg in weight. Their…
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Akinwuntan Abiodun is the Nigerian physical therapist whose doctoral study led to the first-ever use of a high fidelity and interactive driving simulator to train stroke patients to drive again, anywhere in the world. As a student at the University of Lagos, Biodun was gregarious and showed interest in business rather than academics. However, he…
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Mangabey is an arboreal (also terrestrial), endothermic, frugivorous, insectivorous, omnivorous, bilaterally symmetrical, social primate found only within approximately 200 km of the Nigerian coast. They are also found in swamp, mangrove, and valley forests, from western Nigeria southward to the east Cameroon through the coast of Equatorial Guinea to Gabon. Of the 4-6 species of…
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Mona Monkey, scientific name, Cercopithecus mona, is an arboreal, diurnal, omnivorous, frugivorous, social African monkey (called Guenon) with a body length of 32 to 53 cm and a long tail of 67 to 90 cm. The dorsal fur is red-brown to brown-agouti. The ventral surface and buttocks are white. The upper half of the face…
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Mongoose, formerly included in the civet family because of its possession of anal scent glands, the mongoose, Herpestidae, called Eta or Kolokolo in Yoruba, is a family of small, predominantly diurnal carnivorous animals with a greyish or brown fur, long body and face, short legs, small rounded ears and tapered snouts. From one of the…
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The African Spurred Tortoise, Geochelone sulcata, called Ìjàpá in Yoruba and celebrated in many of its folktales as a wise animal, is found in the north of Nigeria and other Sahel regions. They adapt to arid environments through a few means; their thick skin which limit moisture loss, very little discharge of urine, and burrow…
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African Clawless Otter, Aonyx capensis, called El??g??d?? in Yoruba is the most widely distributed otter species in Africa. The generic name, aonyx, which means “not-clawed”, refers to this otter species’ clawless forelimbs. They have thick, smooth fur with almost silky underbellies. Chestnut in color, they are characterized by white facial markings that extend downward towards…
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Mountain Reedbuck, a medium-sized, graceful and shy antelope species, Redunca fulvorufula, called Etu in Yoruba is characterized by short curved horns, which is seen only in males. Head and body length reaches 100-136cm, plus additional tail length of 18-20 cm. Shoulder height is within 65-89 cm. The Western Mountain Reedbuck R. f. adamauae has been…
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Multimammate Mouse, Rattus natalensis, is one of the commonest African rodents. It is so called because the female are multi breasted. Though widespread throughout Africa, the multimammate rat is relatively not common in Nigeria. Being fair climbers, they thrive in human habitats showing tolerance towards its own species and other rodents. Size is mouse-like, but…
