Mammals are warm-blooded, and reptiles are cold-blooded – these characteristics of animals have long been studied and accepted as axioms. But before there was a unique mammal that was cold-blooded.
Mammals, like us, are warm-blooded creatures and need to eat regularly to maintain a constant body temperature. Reptiles such as snakes and lizards, on the contrary, are cold-blooded; They rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature, according to IFLScience.
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But there is, or rather exists, a mysterious mammal that turns this idea on its head.
On a remote Mediterranean island known today as Mallorca in Spain, lived an unusual species of goat called Myotragus balearicus. These goats were quite small, only 45 centimeters tall, and they faced a unique problem. Stranded on a resource-poor island, these creatures had to adapt to survive, thus becoming the world’s only cold-blooded mammals.
Over time, these goats have undergone significant changes. They evolved into shorter limbs, smaller brains, and smaller sensory organs, essentially turning into dwarf goats. These adaptations helped them preserve their energy and thrive in a harsh environment. However, what is most impressive is that their bones show features similar to those of reptiles.
Reptiles are known to grow slowly and can pause their growth depending on the resources available. This form of growth leaves distinctive scars on your bones. When scientists examined the bone structure of Myotragus balearicus, they discovered something unexpected. The goat bones contained the same layered tissues previously found only in cold-blooded reptiles such as crocodiles. This meant that, like reptiles, these goats were capable of slow growth and could flexibly regulate their growth rate depending on the resources available.
These goats also reached maturity much later than normal goats. While a normal goat can become sexually mature in just nine months, Myotragus balearicus took about 12 years to achieve this.
Their lifestyle was also radically different from modern goats. Rather than being agile climbers, they probably lived a slow life under the Mediterranean sun like reptiles.
Researchers Meike Köhler and Salvador Moya-Sola explained in their study that not only the physical characteristics of Myotragus balearicus, but also its growth habits and metabolic requirements are similar to ectothermic reptiles such as lizards and turtles. This means that these goats have adapted to resemble reptiles rather than mammals.
However, it is important to remember that examining bones alone can be controversial. Typically, cold-blooded animals have slow-growing lamellar bones, while warm-blooded animals have fast-growing fibrolamellar bones. However, some dinosaur and bird species display a combination of these bone types, suggesting an intermediate state between warm-blooded and cold-blooded.
Myotragus balearicus offers a unique window into the past because it lives on an island with no natural predators. This species of dwarf goat survived for 5.2 million years; this was more than twice as long as its mainland counterparts. Their reptilian characteristics allowed them to thrive in environments where resources were scarce.
Unfortunately, the world’s only cold-blooded mammal succumbed to the arrival of humans on the island about 3,000 years ago. This, combined with a decline in the number of beloved plant species, has led to their extinction.
Despite everything, these goats have become the only known cold-blooded mammals on earth due to their reptilian characteristics. Although they are no longer there, their legacy sheds light on the incredible diversity of life on our planet and the surprising ways creatures adapt to their environments.
Previously Focus He wrote about super pigs that could harm even bears.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.