The Giant Pangolin, Manis gigantea, is an animal that has intrigued me for years. Pronounced pang-a-lin, not pan-go-lin, this scaled mammal is perhaps other worldly the first time you see it, since it is the only mammal in the world with scales.https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/facts-about-pangolins/ Unfortunately, more people know about this creature now because it is the most trafficked animal in the world, and claims that it may have been the source or a transmitter of the COVID-19 virus.
The word pangolin is derived from the Malay word 'pengguling' which means roller. When they feel threatened they roll up into a ball. Their scales are made of the same material as our fingernails, but they have evolved to withstand an incredible amount of pressure. Watch below as lions are frustrated and outmatched by the defenses of a pangolin.
The Giant Pangolin can weigh up to 70lbs! They eat ants with a long tongue that attaches to their pelvis. While they may appear similar to anteaters, they are not actually closely related to them. They are actually more closely related to the order Carnivora (dogs, cats, bears, etc.) than to the superorder Xenarthra (anteaters, armadillos, sloths). Their tongue is a case of convergent evolution - which is when unrelated species appear similar because they have both evolved separately to fill the same ecological niche.
Another cool fact about pangolins is that they are bipedal, meaning they can walk on two legs. They can also close their ears and nostrils to protect themselves from ants as they are eating.
There are eight species of pangolin in the world, all of which live in Africa or Asia.
Macken Murphy is the creator of my favorite Podcast - Species. He did a great podcast about the pangolin. All of his podcasts are extremely well researched, I highly recommend listening to them all.
I am a dabbler in the arts, and for my whole life I have always wanted to draw and paint animals. Here is my rendition of a pangolin in acrylic:
If you have kids, check out the book Roly Poly Pangolin next time you are at the library or you can order it online here. This animal is critically endangered but efforts are underway to protect them and stop poaching/trafficking. Save Pangolins is one organization working on conservation and education about this animal. You can donate or access teaching materials here.
Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/giant-pangolin
https://www.pangolinsg.org/pangolins/
https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/facts-about-pangolins/
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