Pangolin

This is a free coloring pages blog.  Today's drawing is a Pangolin. 

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\Pangolin are amazing animals that have survived on Earth

for millions and millions of years.  Studies show that they evolved from some type of placental mammal that lived in the Cretaceous Period.  That was the time that T. rex ruled the Earth. 

Yet now the several surviving species of pangolins are either threatened or endangered.  Sadly, pangolins are the most trafficked species on our present-day Earth.  

Pangolins have many amazing scales or armor that is made of keratin.  Some people in the world think that these scales have medicinal uses.  The scientific analysis says that these scales of keratin are made of the same thing as your fingernails and toenails.  The scales of a pangolin really do NOT have any true medicinal value.  But because some people believe that they do this amazing animal is frequently killed for export. Trade of pangolins is banned by international law.  Some cultures consider pangolin meat is a delicacy so pangolins are hunted for their meat as well as their scales.  

Pangolins can roll up into a ball when threatened.  They are between 12 and 39 inches long... that is 30-100 cm.  Pangolins eat ants and termites.  They have long tongues so basically they are an armored anteater.  Although they probably are not closely related genetically to anteaters.  

Pangolins lead solitary lives, although the mother will spend two years caring for and raising her offspring.  By the way, pangolins are the only known mammal to have large, protective keratin scales.   The pangolin in this drawing is one of the species that lives in sub-Saharan Africa. 

This drawing, in printable form, can be found by clicking on the "Animals" category button.  Remember that new drawings are at the bottom of the list.