giant pangolin
Quick Summary
The giant pangolin (Manis gigantea) is a large, scaly anteater native to western Africa. Pangolins, belonging to the family Manidae, are placental mammals found in tropical Asia and Africa. The name "pangolin" comes from a Malay word meaning "rolling over," referring to their defense mechanism of curling into a ball when threatened.12
These animals are covered in overlapping scales, except for the sides of their face and the underside of their body. They have a short, conical head with small eyes and a long, toothless muzzle. Their tongue can extend up to 10 inches, and they have sharp claws on their five-toed feet.2
Giant pangolins, along with other pangolin species, primarily feed on termites and ants, using their strong forefeet to break into nests. Unfortunately, all pangolin species are threatened with extinction due to hunting for meat and traditional medicine, leading to significant population declines.2
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