Description Pangolin skeletons at the Museum of Osteology (2009) Schematic drawing of pangolin scale histology In ancient India, according to Aelian, it was known as the phattáge (φαττάγης). In Javanese it is terenggiling and in the Philippine languages, it is goling, tanggiling, or balintong (with the same meaning). The name "pangolin" comes from the Malay word pengguling meaning "one who rolls up" from guling or giling "to roll" it was used for the Sunda pangolin ( Manis javanica). The name of order Pholidota comes from Ancient Greek ϕολιδωτός – "clad in scales" from φολίς pholís " scale". javanica) are critically endangered, three ( Phataginus tricuspis, Manis crassicaudata and Smutsia gigantea) are endangered and two ( Phataginus tetradactyla and Smutsia temminckii) are vulnerable on the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. As of January 2020, there are eight species of pangolin whose conservation status is listed in the threatened tier. Pangolins are threatened by poaching (for their meat and scales, which are used in traditional medicine ) and heavy deforestation of their natural habitats, and are the most trafficked mammals in the world. They tend to be solitary animals, meeting only to mate and produce a litter of one to three offspring, which they raise for about two years. Pangolins are nocturnal, and their diet consists of mainly ants and termites, which they capture using their long tongues. They live in hollow trees or burrows, depending on the species. Pangolins have large, protective keratin scales, similar in material to fingernails and toenails, covering their skin they are the only known mammals with this feature. In September 2023, nine species were reported. A number of extinct pangolin species are also known. These species range in size from 30 to 100 cm (12 to 39 in). Manis comprises four species found in Asia, while Phataginus and Smutsia include two species each, all found in sub-Saharan Africa. The one extant family, the Manidae, has three genera: Manis, Phataginus, and Smutsia. Pangolins, sometimes known as scaly anteaters, are mammals of the order Pholidota ( / f ɒ l ɪ ˈ d oʊ t ə/).
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