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Physical Characteristics

There are three types of pangolin -the giant pangolin, the tree pangolin and the most common, the ground pangolin. Pangolins have small heads and broad tails. They have no teeth and external ears, although their hearing is good. Their sense of scent is well-developed, but their sight is bad. The weight of the protective scales and skin make up about 20% of the pangolin's total weight. The animal protects itself by scratching with the hind legs and lifting its scales so the claws can reach the skin. It also uses its tongue to remove insects from under the scales.

Diet

Pangolins use their sense of smell to locate termite and ant nests. They dig the insects from mounds or holes with their claws and use their extremely long tongues to eat them. In a resting position the tongue is pulled back into a sheath that retracts into the chest area.

Behaviour

Pangolins are nocturnal so they remain in their burrows during the day. All pangolins are able to roll themselves into a ball to defend themselves, and it takes a lot force to unroll them. The cutting action of their armor-plated scales, worked by powerful muscles, protects them too, by inflicting serious wounds on anything inserted between them.

Pangolins normally live by themselves. Females are usually alone with their young, but occasionally are accompanied in their burrow by a male pangolin. At this time the infant begins to accompany the mother, riding on the base of her tail. If the mother senses danger the baby slips under her and is protected by her when she rolls up her body into a ball.

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