Have you ever met a pangolin?  If you see one, you might think they look strange. They are the only mammals that also have scales. Because of their scales, they are sometimes called spiny anteaters.              

There are eight species of pangolins. They live in Africa and Asia. Tree pangolins live in trees in tropical areas. Ground pangolins like places with sandy soil.              

Pangolins have small heads and long tails. In fact, the tree pangolin’s tail is even longer than its body! It uses its tail to climb.               

In the Malay language, Pangolin means “rolling over.” If a pangolin is scared, it curls into a ball. Pangolins are shy. They do not come out much during the day. Because they don’t see well, they do better at night.             

Pangolins have a good sense of smell. They sniff out ants and termites to eat. They open the nests with their front claws. Then they use their long, sticky tongues to catch the ants.         

Sadly, pangolins are an endangered species. People capture them for their scales and their meat. Over 100,000 pangolins are taken from the wild each year. Governments and park groups are working to save the pangolin. This unique and gentle creature deserves to be preserved.