Chinese Pangolin

The Chinese pangolin is a round-bodied, bronze-colored mammal covered by about eighteen rows of overlapping scales interspersed with hairs. It has a small pointed head, narrow mouth, fleshy nose, and powerful feet bearing long digging claws. Adults measure approximately 60 cm from head to body, with an additional 18 cm of tail. A long, sticky tongue, reaching about 25 cm, collects prey from opened insect nests. (Animal Diversity Web)

Chinese pangolins inhabit subtropical, deciduous, and scrub forests from China west through Myanmar, the eastern Himalayas, Assam, and Nepal. They are shy, nocturnal, predominantly terrestrial animals that excavate deep burrows, sometimes blocking the entrance after entering. Although slow-moving, they may climb into the forest canopy. Their diet consists chiefly of ants and termites. When threatened they curl into a ball, using the hard scales as armor. Females generally produce one young. (Animal Diversity Web)