The Pangolin: The World's Only Scaly Mammal
Pangolins (Manis spp.) are the only mammals completely covered in scales made of keratin—the same material as human fingernails—which comprise roughly 20% of their body weight. When threatened, they curl into an impenetrable ball so tight that even lions cannot pry them open. These solitary, nocturnal insectivores have no teeth but possess incredibly long, sticky tongues that can extend up to 16 inches to extract ants and termites from their nests. Tragically, pangolins hold the unfortunate distinction of being the world's most trafficked mammal, with all eight species now facing extinction due to illegal wildlife trade.