The Pangolin Is the World's Most Trafficked Mammal

These solitary, nocturnal creatures are the world's only truly scaly mammals, a feature that has unfortunately contributed to their dire conservation status. Pangolins are more closely related to the order Carnivora, which includes cats and dogs, than to other insect-eating mammals like anteaters or armadillos. There are eight species of pangolin, four in Asia and four in Africa, and they are an ancient lineage of mammals. Their most prominent feature, the overlapping scales, are made of keratin—the same protein found in human hair and fingernails. This natural armor is an effective defense against predators like lions, as the pangolin can roll into a tight, almost impenetrable ball. This defense mechanism, however, makes them easy targets for human poachers, who can simply pick them up.

The immense demand for pangolins stems from the use of their scales in traditional medicine and their meat being considered a luxury food in parts of Asia and Africa. This demand has fueled a massive illegal trade, which has decimated pangolin populations. Initially, the trade focused on the Asian species, but as their numbers plummeted, traffickers shifted their focus to the more numerous African species to supply the demand. As a result, all eight species are now threatened with extinction (Review), with several being classified as Critically Endangered.

Pangolins are highly specialized for their diet of ants and termites. They have no teeth but possess an extraordinarily long, sticky tongue (Review) that can be longer than their head and body combined, attaching near their pelvis. To aid in digestion, they ingest small stones that help grind up insects in their muscular stomachs. They are also equipped with powerful claws for tearing into nests and can close off their nostrils and ears to protect themselves from insect attacks. These unique adaptations highlight a fascinating evolutionary path but have not been enough to protect them from the severe threat of poaching.