pangolin

[ pang-guh-lin, pang-goh- ]

noun

1. any mammal of the order Pholidota, of Africa and tropical Asia, having a covering of broad, overlapping, horny scales and feeding on ants and termites.

pangolin

/ pæŋˈɡəʊlɪn /

noun

1. any mammal of the order Pholidota found in tropical Africa, S Asia, and Indonesia, having a body covered with overlapping horny scales and a long snout specialized for feeding on ants and termites Also calledscaly anteater

Word History and Origins

Origin of pangolin¹

1765–75; < Malay pengguling (dial. or bazaar Malay name for the animal) one who rolls up, equivalent to peng- agentive prefix + guling roll up or around; so called from its habit of curling into a ball when threatened

Word History and Origins

Origin of pangolin¹

C18: from Malay peng-gōling, from gōling to roll over; from its ability to roll into a ball

Example Sentences

But no DNA from bats or pangolins turned up in any of the Huanan market samples.

From Los Angeles Times

In urban settings like Singapore, the researchers suggested focusing on medium-sized species such as langurs, pangolins, hornbills and butterflies, which can adapt to urbanised landscapes with proper conservation support.

From Science Daily

Threatened pangolins, known as armored anteaters, scramble along branches.

From Seattle Times

The tests could help law enforcement agents more quickly identify the source of untold numbers of hunted pangolins, possibly millions of which are illegally shipped around the world each year.

From Science Magazine

One day, as she was doing field work outside the city, she saw an animal doing the same thing - it was a Chinese pangolin, one of eight species of the scaly nocturnal mammal.

From BBC