it's ellen_fremedon's fault i'm even asking this question.

[fox]

The human hyoid bone is both isolated and unique -- that is, it does not articulate with any other bone in the human body, and it is the only bone of which this is true.

What I'm trying to think up is other things that are either isolated or unique -- for instance, say there are several types of tree that grow only at X elevation or on Y island or in soil where some mineral or other is present; or, like, is gold the only elemental metal that doesn't tarnish? (I doubt it, but you see what I'm getting at, right?)

Ideally, things in this column will be either isolated or unique but not both; and they'll be vegetable or mineral -- or animal, but not human. (not sentient, even.) Anyone have any thoughts? (It's fine if the thing -- or its solitude or uniqueness -- is mythical or legendary.) Cheers --

Comments

[jgesteve.livejournal.com]

Well I know that in ages past Nutmeg Trees only grew on one island (or group of islands I suppose) in the East Indies... but I'm not sure if that is true now...

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

There are so many isolated and/or unique plants and animals I don't know where to start. But you don't want both?

So, for instance:

- the opossum is the only marsupial native to North America.

- the ginko is the only surviving member of the family Gingoaceae; it exists only in captivity.

- the giant panda is the only mammal that normally has six digits per front limb ("hand"). It is also the only vertebrate that subsists on bamboo.

- the kea of New Zealand is the only carnivorous parrot.

Give me a few parameters or I'll be at this for weeks!

[thalia]

Two is the only even prime number; does that count? Other than that, I'm going to be useless for this one.

[thalia]

Oh, wait, aren't Basenjis the only dogs that don't bark? And Manxes the only cats that don't have tails?

OK, I'm done.

[datlowen.livejournal.com]

Since you mention it, I believe that platinum doesn't tarnish. And, on a tangent, the reason that gold has its signature color is because of the relativistic effects of the speed of the electrons orbiting the atoms.

You're welcome!

[glasshouseslive.livejournal.com]

there must be thousands...

Here's a link to Texas rivers and streams that host unique/endemic species:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/texaswater/sb1/rivers/unique/regions_text/region_f.htm (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/texaswater/sb1/rivers/unique/regions_text/region_f.htm)