Pangolins can be considered an outlier among mammals. Most mammals are covered in fur, but pangolins are clad in iron-like scales that can be erected vertically, making them look quite formidable! It's said that a pangolin can dig through mountains with a single shake of its body—is this true? Pangolins are the only surviving scaly-skinned mammals, with only seven species worldwide, mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and southern Africa. In China, there are two common pangolin species, which are classified as second-level protected animals. They are widely distributed in the forests of southern provinces of China, and can also be found in Nepal and the Indochinese Peninsula. In addition, large Indian pangolins are also found in Yunnan and Guangxi, China. The body size of pangolins varies depending on the species. Generally, they are 40–50 cm long, with tails about 30 cm long, and weigh 1.5–3 kg. They mainly feed on termites, consuming up to 500 grams of termites in a single meal, and occasionally eat other insects.
Although the term "digging through mountains" may sound exaggerated, pangolins do indeed have supernatural abilities. Their sharp and powerful claws allow them to dig holes efficiently. They first dig with their front legs while their hind legs shovel out the soil. Sometimes, they first loosen the soil with their front claws, then enter the hole and erect their scales into countless "small shovels." They retreat while shoveling out the soil and pulling it out of the hole. When advancing, these scales become like trowels for smoothing and strengthening the walls of the hole. It's estimated that a Chinese pangolin can dig 3–5 meters in an hour. From the outside, it only takes a short while for it to disappear into the hole. Although it doesn't "dig through mountains," it's definitely adept at digging holes. These supernatural abilities make it easy to deal with termites or ants hidden underground and eliminate entire nests of termites without much effort. It's estimated that an adult pangolin can protect 250 mu of forest from termite threats, making it a true forest guardian.
Pangolins love digging holes and living in them. After eliminating termites, they often stay in the holes for a few days as temporary shelters. They also inhabit different caves according to the seasons: in summer, they live in cool and ventilated highland caves with simple structures. In winter, they dig winding caves in sunny and sheltered lowlands, which can reach over 10 meters in length. During the digging process, they often raid several termite nests as "winter food." At the end of the cave, there's a nest chamber padded with fine grass, serving as a winter "bedroom" and "baby nursery."
In fact, pangolins are not only adept at "digging through mountains," but also skilled at climbing trees and swimming. They have a unique stinky odor, which attracts greedy insects like rotten meat. Swarms of ants and insects come to "feast," only to fall into the pangolin's trap. Sometimes, they even open their scales to lure insects into the gaps between the scales, then surprise them by closing their scales and diving into the water, where the scales open again, allowing the insects to float to the surface for their enjoyment. Isn't the pangolin's scale armor quite versatile? Moreover, when encountering enemies, pangolins will curl up and rely on their hard scales to defend themselves. All these supernatural abilities of the pangolin show that "high skill requires courage." However, they are actually quite timid, hiding in their caves during the day and only coming out to secretly move around at night.