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What role do Merkel cells play in mammalian skin?

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A pangolin walks through grass with a blue circle around it and the word endangered written in white across the image. — Integument The pangolin is the only mammal in the world covered in scales.

In mammalian skin, Merkel cells are specialized cells located in the basal layer of the epidermis that function as part of the body's sensory structures.12

Specifically, Merkel cells act as "slowly adapting" mechanoreceptors that respond to touch pressure. As nonencapsulated corpuscular receptors, they play a vital role in the skin's ability to perceive mechanical stimuli, helping the organism monitor its physical environment through the sense of touch.13