Meet the pangolin Pangolin scales are made of … Pangolins are the world's most endangered animal you've never heard of. Pangolins share a similar body shape, long snout, and long tongue with the giant anteaters, but they are actually more closely related to dogs, cats, and bears. They are toothless Pangolins have no teeth; instead they rely on a gizzard-like stomach that is adapted for grinding food. Here are 15 amazing facts about the peculiar animal that is the pangolin - otherwise known as the scaly anteater. Pangolins – scaly, toothless anteaters that resemble a giant walking artichoke – are being hunted to near extinction in Southeast Asia to meet the demands of illegal trade in pangolin meat and body parts in China. 1. Pangolin scales are made of keratin, the same material that makes up fingernails, hair, and horn. Also known as the scaly anteater, these mammals are covered from head to toe in scales made of keratin, which is the same substance found in our nails and hair. Learn more about these amazing, gentle creatures! Shares. 2. The Pangolin is the only known mammal in the world to have hard overlapping scales, that cover their entire body. Mature males can be 40% larger than females. Their scales are very different to those of a reptile, and are more like a pine cone in appearance. Pangolins range in size from the size of a house cat to over four feet long. Interesting Pangolin Facts 1. They wear heavy armor The pangolin’s scales make up 20 percent of its total body weight. Pangolins, sometimes known as scaly anteaters, are mammals of the order Pholidota (from Ancient Greek φολῐ́ς, "horny scale").The one extant family, Manidae, has three genera: Manis, Phataginus and Smutsia. Pangolins are also unique in another way, as they have more vertebrae than any other animal. The species that are arboreal (white- and black-bellied, Indian, Philippine and Sunda pangolins) have semi-prehensile tails for climbing trees. Manis comprises the four species found in Asia, while Phataginus and Smutsia include two species each, all found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Photo by Asia Sentinel Top 10 Amazing Facts about Pangolins May 20, 2019 - 3:25 pm Photo by World Wildlife Fund Top 10 Interesting Facts about African Wild Dog May 20, 2019 - 2:42 pm Brothers in Blood: The Mapogo Lions May 17, 2019 - 2:23 pm By Alina Bradford 14 December 2016. 2) There are 8 species of pangolin - the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), Philippine Pangolin (Manis culionensis), Giant Pangolin (Manis gigantea), Ground Pangolin… 3. Facts About Pangolins. Posted on 11/12/2018 by Daniela Valla. Enjoy! The pangolin is sometimes called the scaly anteater. Females use their tails to carry their young, too. These species range in size … To help raise awareness of these gentle creatures, here is a list of 11 cool facts about pangolins. 20% of a pangolins weight is made up of hard scales. in the Animals in the wild blog. Pangolins are the cutest animal you probably never heard of – but they hold a world record. In honor of World Pangolin Day, here are five facts that you probably didn’t know about this interesting creature. Pangolins are fascinating and intriguing creatures. 5 Interesting Facts About Pangolins. Photo: verdammelt 1) Pangolins are insectivores, feeding mainly on ants and termites.