DO you know what a pangolin is? I do and I'm about to tell you what it is too!
WHAT IS A PANGOLIN?!?!
The pangolin is a long-tailed, sticky-tongued Old World (Asia and Africa) mammal. Most species feed at night, sleep during the day, and roll into an impenetrable ball when threatened.
The pangolin's body is covered with large, flat imbricated horny scales; it somewhat resembles the New World armadillo in terms of it's feeding habits and it's employment of a curled up, hedgehog-like defense posture. It has a long sticky tongue which it uses to gather termites and ants.
The pangolin is also called the Scaly Anteater, any of teh armoured placental mammals of the order of the Pholidota. Pangolin, from the Malayan meaning "rolling over," refers to this animal's habit of curling into a ball when threatened. About eight species of pangolins, usually considered the genus Manis, family Manidae, are found in Tropical Asia.
DESCRIPTION
Pangolins have a long tail, short powerful limbs, and a conical head. They are natives to the regions of South-East Asia and are found in parts of Africa. This reptile-like animal with large overlapping scales has often been spotted in dry woodland or scrub terrain.
Some pangolins live in trees but most are ground-dwellers. Ground-dwelling pangolins have strong legs capable of digging into termite mounds for food. The arboreal pangolins have prehensile tails which they uses both for balance and as a hook to hang from. Arboreal pangolins roll up in a ball in a tree hollow to sleep at night.
Pangolins vary in size. The Long-Tailed Pangolin is the smallest , at about 1 meter long (3 feet) longand weighing 3-4 pounds (2 kg). The Giant Pangolin is almost 6 feet (2 meters) long and weighs 70 pounds (32 kg). The Giant Pangolin's tongue is about 2 feet (61 cm) long, and is internally anchored to it's hip bones.
SELF-DEFENSE
Pangolins are well equipped for self-defense. The pangolin usually rolls up into a ball when threatened. Pangolins can lash out with their razor sharp scales. Pangolins have scent glands similar to those of the skunk which they can use to spray enemies.
Pangolins can amble on all fours, but for speed they stand up on two feet using their long tail for support. They run at a speed of about 3 miles (5 km) per hour.
Pangolins are endangered (CITES Appendix II or III, depending on species)because their skin make attractive leather for boots, similar to snakeskin or armadillo boots. Also, pangolins are eaten in some parts of the world. People claim to have seen pangolin soup on menus in Thailand and have seen pangolins skin belts.
Now you have been educated on the pangolin. Before maybe a week ago I didn't even know pangolins exsited. But me and my sister were looking at cute pics of baby animals and we saw a pangolin and searched it up and found out a new species.
