Pangolin

A pangolin is a toothless mammal covered in overlapping keratin scales. The eight living species inhabit Africa and Asia and feed mainly on ants and termites.

Pholidota: The mammalian order containing pangolins, its only living members. Pangolins are the sole surviving representatives of this order.
Pangolin tongue: An elongated, sticky tongue used by pangolins to capture ants and termites. Its length and rapid extension let a pangolin forage inside nests.
Chinese pangolin: An Asian pangolin species found across parts of South and East Asia. Its range and severe decline exemplify pressures on Asian pangolins.
Pangolin trafficking: The illegal capture and trade of pangolins and their body parts. Trafficking for scales and meat is a major source of population decline.
Keratin: A structural protein found in hair, nails, claws, and other tough body tissues. Pangolin scales are made of keratin, like mammalian claws.
Pangolin scales: Overlapping plates of keratin that cover most of a pangolin’s body. The scales form armor that protects the animal when it curls up.
Ground pangolin: A large African pangolin species that forages mostly on the ground. Its terrestrial habits contrast with the tree-climbing habits of some relatives.
CITES: An international agreement regulating trade in wild animals and plants. All pangolin species receive its highest level of trade protection.
Myrmecophagy: The specialized diet of animals that eat ants and termites. This feeding strategy shapes pangolins’ anatomy and behavior.
Pangolin defense: The defensive behaviors pangolins use against threats, including curling into a tight ball. Curling presents a shield of scales while covering vulnerable body parts.

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