The more I investigate the pangolin, the more fascinated I become. These walking pine cones are amazing creatures. They are the only mammal on the planet armored with keratin scales.
Photo source: Nigel J. Dennis / www.nhpa.co.uk
Photo source: CBC Radio As it Happens
Native to portions of Asia and Africa, the pangolin (of which there are eight species) gets its name from the Malay term "pengguling ("something that rolls up"). The pangolin rolls up into a ball when threatened, and those scales are not only tough, but they are also razor sharp (ergo the gloves).
The closest living relative isn't the anteater, though the pangolin is also called the scaly anteater. Rather, its closest living cousin is the carnivora (one of the best names ever given to an animal).
If you want to watch some endearing footage of one, check out this video. They walk bipedally.
Thanks for the photos and the video, Ida and Booge.
Jul 3, 2008
The Globe Artichoke
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15 comments:
that's a really cool animal and amazing to watch in action.
you might want to look closer at the link to Carnivora though, as that's not the name of a specific animal. instead it's the order of all mammals that we label as carnivorous including bears, cats, dogs, seals, weasels etc. the wiki article on Ferae has a decent explanation too
LONG EMBEDDED VIDEO IS LONG
omg, this is far away from being ugly, it's cute =)
I agree with hyony...I think it's cute too!
omgcute
That is ADORABLE, in fact. And awesome.
I wonder if we could import them into America where there's a huge number of fire ants they could NOM NOM up.
I didn't realize they were bipedal -- how cool is that?
Ok...he's cute. Not ugly whatsoever. His momma should have told him to sit up straight though....just watching him walk hurts my lower back.
Amazing and so adorable! A couple in the garden would be great, probably keep as many kids out as bugs.
Pangolins, 'specially baby pangolins, are TEH KYOOT!
cute! I didn't realize they were bipedal. The way they move looks like the Mystics from the Dark Crystal. ^^
Ah! A scaly Mystic. I love it!
Very cool.
Truly amazing and beautiful
yes, carnivora is an entire order of animals.
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