O pangolim-chinês (Manis pentadactyla) é uma espécie insetívora, criticamente em perigo, nativa da Índia, Nepal, Butão, Bangladesh, Mianmar, Taiwan e sul da China. São criaturas pequenas, arredias e vagarosas, cujo traço mais característico são as camadas de escamas queratinosas, que parecem uma armadura. Os pangolins-chineses podem medir de 40 a 58 cm de comprimento, com uma cauda de 25 a 38 cm. Eles passam o dia dormindo nas tocas e a noite caçando formigas, cupins e outros insetos.
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Manis pentadactyla
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chinese-pangolin
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Animal Facts
Pangolins are the only mammal with scales, they are also the most trafficked animal in the world.
Newborn Chinese pangolins have soft scales. They harden when the infant is 3 days old.
The pangolin's tongue can be 40cm in length; they use it to hunt and eat ants and termites.
Pangolins do not have teeth. Instead, they swallow small stones that remain in their stomach and help grind up their food after ingestion.
When threatened, pangolins will curl up into a tight ball, relying on their tough scales to protect themselves.