DrArchivalGenomics (@ehekkala.bsky.social)

We Should All Be Talking About Pangolins More. Here's Why. Pangolins are the only mammals in the world covered in scales. Meet the pangolin: a shy, scale-covered mammal whose name comes from the Malay word pengguling, meaning “roller” or “one who rolls up.” When threatened, that’s exactly what they do: curl into a tight ball of armor, transforming into something that resembles a pine cone. While this defense mechanism is effective against big cats and other would-be predators, it’s no match for poachers. An estimated 200,000 pangolins are taken from the wild every year to meet the demand for their meat and scales, making them the most trafficked wild mammals on Earth. Pangolins are quietly disappearing before many people have even heard of them. The more we talk about them, the more awareness we raise, behaviors we help change, and momentum we create for their protection. Here are six facts about pangolins to get you better acquainted: 1. They’re the only mammal on Earth covered in scales Intricately overlapping layers of scales coat the entire length of the pangolin’s body, like nature’s own suit of armor. Often mistaken for reptiles, pangolins are actually warm-blooded mammals who nurse their young, just like we do. At any sign of danger, the pangolin... https://wildaid.org/we-should-all-be-talking-about-pangolins-more-heres-why/