This Animal Looks Like a Steel-Coated Transformer

This incredible armored animal shown by uk_safari_girl looks like a Transformer, or maybe a dinosaur, lumbering around on its hind legs with its arms tucked up into its chest. It’s called a pangolin, which comes from the Malay word penggulung, meaning “to roll up.” Pangolins roll themselves up into balls for self-defense, but unfortunately, their defenses only work against other animals, not humans. According to the Pangolin Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), pangolins are the most illegally traded mammals in the world. Why are they being trafficked, and what is being done to stop it?

Temminck’s Pangolin

Pangolins may look more like reptiles, but they are mammals — the only mammals with scales. Since they also have long, sticky tongues and their main diet is ants and termites, scientists previously believed they were more closely related to anteaters and armadillos. Yet they share more genetic characteristics with cats and dogs. There are eight pangolin species found in Africa and Asia. The species in the video is Temminck’s pangolin (Smutsia temminkii). This species inhabits eastern and southern Africa’s forests, scrublands, grasslands, and savannas. They are the only pangolins living in South Africa, the location of the footage above.

Temminck’s pangolin is the second-largest species after the giant ground pangolin. They average around 15-26 pounds, with the largest individual on record weighing about 42 pounds. The scales weigh between 33%-35% of the animal’s total body weight. Temminck’s pangolins can grow to around four feet, including their long tails, which are nearly as long as the rest of their bodies. Males are generally larger than females, but size also varies geographically. Larger individuals are typically found in wetter environments while smaller animals have been observed in semi-arid habitats.

The Pangolin Armored Defense System

One of the most amazing things about pangolins is their hard, scaly armor. They are born with soft, pale scales that harden and darken within 1-2 days. Temminck’s pangolins typically have between 340 and 420 scales that cover most of their bodies. The only exceptions are their undersides and their heads, not including the forehead. Their scales are very sharp and end in a point, which may become dulled with age. The dark brown overlapping scales make them look a little like pine cones, which helps them blend in with various environments. These scales are made of keratin, just like humans’ fingernails and rhinoceros’ horns.

The pangolin’s best weapon against predators is its ability to roll up into a ball. The overlapping scales face outward to protect their entire bodies with hard, keratin armor. The scales’ razor-like edges with sharp tips are extremely difficult for predators to puncture. It’s so effective, that pangolins have few predators willing to go to the trouble. However, if the armor isn’t enough to dissuade them, pangolins also have scent glands to spray predators with foul odors, just like skunks.

Why Are Pangolins So Heavily Trafficked?

While their defenses may be enough to discourage most predators, they can’t stop humans intent on capturing them for their scales or meat. The scales are used in traditional medicine and folk remedies, while the meat is considered a delicacy. Even the skins are used to make leather products. The IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group has estimated that there have been at least a million pangolins captured and killed in the last ten years.

All eight pangolin species are currently rated Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Temminck’s pangolin is considered Vulnerable. Fortunately, many conservation organizations are working toward preserving these animals. International trade is also prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). However, reducing consumer demand remains one of the greatest ongoing challenges.