Meet the Pangolin
1Pangolins are small mammals that live in parts of Africa and Asia. From far away, a pangolin might look like a walking pinecone. Its body is covered in hard, brown scales that overlap like shingles on a roof. The scales are made of keratin, the same material as your fingernails.
2Pangolins eat ants and termites. They do not have any teeth. Instead, a pangolin uses its strong front claws to dig into ant hills and termite mounds. Then it catches the insects with its long, sticky tongue.
3Pangolins have a clever way to stay safe. When a pangolin feels scared, it rolls up into a tight ball. Its soft belly is tucked inside, and its hard scales face out. Many hungry animals cannot open the ball, so they give up and walk away.
4Most pangolins are busy at night. During the day, many of them rest in burrows or hollow trees. A baby pangolin often rides on its mother's tail when she goes out to look for food.