Definition of pangolin Pangolin

pan•go•lin

We found 7 definitions of pangolin from 7 different sources.

What does pangolin mean?

Noun Plural: pangolins
pangolin - toothless mammal of southern Africa and Asia having a body covered with horny scales and a long snout for feeding on ants and termites
		scaly anteater, anteater
		eutherian, eutherian mammal, placental, placental mammal mammals having a placenta; all mammals except monotremes and marsupials

= synonym
= antonym
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pangolin (Noun)
The scaly anteater ; any of several long-tailed, scale-covered mammals of the order Pholidota of tropical Africa and Asia.

pangolin (n.)
Any one of several species of Manis, Pholidotus, and related genera, found in Africa and Asia. They are covered with imbricated scales, and feed upon ants. Called also scaly ant-eater.

pangolin
Any mammal of the genus Manis in the Manidae family having large keratin scales covering their skin.

pangolin
pang′gō-lin, n. the scaly ant-eater, a name given to the various species of the genus Manis belonging to the mammalian order Edentata. [Malay.]

Pangolins (or scaly anteaters) are mammals which live in Africa and Asia. They have scales on their skin. There are different types of pangolin. Some types live in trees. All pangolins eat ants and termites. They catch their food using their tongues. Pangolins curl up when they feel scared so that their soft belly is hidden from attack. In southern China and other countries people kill pangolins to eat them. Because of this, there are not many pangolins left in some places.