By Santiago Balderas
By Santiago Balderas
The scaly anteaters of the planet
The hard scales of the pangolin protect the mammal from harm. These scales are made of keratin, the same material our fingernails are made of!
"What is a pangolin?," you may be asking. Pangolins are a species of mammals, a size ranging from 30 to 100 cm. These animals span from the savannas of southern Africa, the grasslands of China, to the swamps of India.
Also known as "scaly anteaters," pangolins are like a mix of an armadillo and an anteater. Their diet mostly consists of ants and termites, and if in danger, they will roll up into a ball to protect themselves. They are also unique as they are able to stand on two legs, using their hind legs and large tail. This allows the pangolin to sniff for any nearby ants and termites. All of these features make the pangolin a truly unique creature.
However, these animals are endangered.
The remaining species of pangolins are threatened, endangered, or sometimes even critically endangered. Many species have already gone extinct, due to human interference. One question remains however.
How could we save the pangolins?
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