---
title: "Define What Is Pangolin?"  
description: "Define What Is Pangolin?"  
author: "Sanat Shukla"  
published: 2018-10-17  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/50604/define-what-is-pangolin  
category: "science"  
tags: ["zoology"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Define What Is Pangolin?

[Define](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/72286/for-define-what-rats-and-rabbits-use-their-claws) What Is Pangolin?

\

## Answers

### Answer by Sanjay Goenka

**Pangolin** or sometimes **known as** the **scaly anteaters** are mammals of the order of **Pholidota** which belongs to the extant **family of [Manidae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manidae)**[.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manidae)

\
![Define What Is Pangolin?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/bbde5819-e85d-4977-a97d-3ef26811b99d/images/7cbe0929-fa69-4424-9d15-d73e66bc7dc3.jpeg)\
\
**Overview** The family from which it **belongs Manidae** has three genera called the **Manis, Phataginus, and Smuts**. These are species comprising all the four mainly **found in [Asia](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/48345/who-is-the-first-asian-to-score-a-double-century-at-lords).** While **other two species are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.** \
These **species are going to be the extant species** on the earth and they should be protected by human beings. In the time of danger, it has a **long protective long Keratin scale**, this covers his all skin and provides the best support in any climate. \
The Pangolins are in danger due to the destruction of their natural habitat and also the **increasing number of poachers** are making the life of Pangolin end. They are used mainly for the **meat, their scale, and their skin which is used on a large scale in medicine.** \
**Physical Description** The physical appearance of **Pangolins is like the curved plate which is hardened, large, and shiny**. The newborn Pangolins the upper scales are soft. The material which is present in their scales is made up of **Keratin** by which our nails and tetrapod claws are made. \
They can emit a **noxious-smelling chemical** from a gland near the anus and this process is similar to the **skunk**. The **legs of the Pangolins are short** and the claws are very sharp by which they used them to **burrow the ant and termite** mounds and use for the climbing purposes \
**The tongue of Pangolins are very long** and they can stretch their tongue up to **40 cm which is 16 inches**. Inches the reason may be the joint of the tongue is not hyoid bone but from the thorax which is **between sternum and trachea.** \
**Behaviors** They are rarely found during the daytime and are also **called nocturnal creatures**. The long-tailed Pangolins are usually active during the daytime otherwise all are used to sleeping in the daytime. Some are used to living in the **trees** but some live in the **deep tunnel-digging structure which can be as deep as 3.5 meters.** \
Read more [Which Animal Has No Skeleton?](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/72309/which-animal-has-no-skeleton)


---

Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/50604/define-what-is-pangolin

Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.