pangolin
Armored ant-eater
A pangolin is a scaly mammal native to Africa and Asia, covered in overlapping keratin plates that form protective armor.
When threatened, it curls into a tight ball.
Pangolins are nocturnal insectivores, using long sticky tongues to extract ants and termites from nests.
They are among the world's most trafficked animals, hunted for their scales and meat.
Structural hair protein
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- clawsAnimal gripping nails
- snoutBeast's protruding face
- tongueOral muscle for taste
tail · carapace · plates · overlapping · imbricate · integument · dermal · epidermis
Forming curved shapes
- coilingLooping around repeatedly
- ballSpherical plaything or gala
- armorProtective combat covering
- protectionGuarding against harm
shield · rolling · enclosing · enfolding · scales · predator · threat · musty
Active during darkness
- burrowingDigging to create shelter
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- climbingAscending by physical effort
digging · arboreal · terrestrial · crepuscular · slow-moving · secretive · elusive · shy
At risk of extinction
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
extinction · smuggling · sanctuary · protection · vulnerable · bushmeat · biodiversity · preservation
Warm-blooded, milk-producing animal
- vertebrateSpinal column animal
- placentalNourished before birth internally
- warm-bloodedInternally temperature-regulated
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
keratin
Structural hair protein
tongue · tail · carapace · plates · overlapping · imbricate · integument · dermal · epidermis · burrowing
curling
Forming curved shapes
protection · shield · rolling · enclosing · enfolding · scales · predator · threat · musty · secretion
nocturnal
Active during darkness
climbing · digging · arboreal · terrestrial · crepuscular · slow-moving · secretive · elusive · shy
endangered
At risk of extinction
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- traffickingIllegal transport for profit
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
threatened · extinction · smuggling · sanctuary · protection · vulnerable · bushmeat · biodiversity · preservation · endemic
mammal
Warm-blooded, milk-producing animal
- vertebrateSpinal column animal
- placentalNourished before birth internally
- warm-bloodedInternally temperature-regulated
- Pangolins
- animalscat, dog, bird, fish, cow
- mammalsbears, bats, sheep, cats, anteater
- rainforeststropical rainforest, canopy layer, forest floor, emergent layer, understory
- African wildlifeelephant, African elephant, lion, hippo, elephants
- armored thingstank, knight, armadillo, turtle, battleship
pangolinlion
Maned African feline
tiger · wolf · honey badger · wolverine · venomous snake
pangolinnaked mole rat
Hairless burrowing African rodent
hippopotamus · dolphin · whale · elephant · human