Consider the following animals : 1. Hedgehog 2. Marmot 3. Pangolin To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protect its/their vulnerable parts?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1 and 3 ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Hedgehogs roll into a tight ball so their spines face outward and the soft belly, face and limbs are protected (item 1).
• Pangolins, covered in keratin scales, curl into an armoured ball that even lions struggle to open (item 3).
• Marmots (2) are ground squirrels that escape predators by whistling alarm calls and diving into burrows; they do not roll up.
• Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammals and are Schedule I species in India.
• Hence 1 and 3, option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 2
- Marmots do not roll up; they flee into burrows.
- (b) 2 only
- Marmots do not roll up; hedgehogs and pangolins do.
- (c) 3 only
- Hedgehogs also roll up, not pangolins alone.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2021, held on 10 October 2021. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.