The Pangolin: Nature's Armored Insect Vacuum
The pangolin, comprising eight species across Africa and Asia (genus Manis), is the world's only mammal covered entirely in scales made of keratin—the same material as human fingernails. These solitary nocturnal creatures can consume up to 70 million insects annually, using their incredibly long tongues (which can extend up to 40 centimeters and are stored coiled inside their chest cavity) to slurp up ants and termites with remarkable efficiency. Tragically, pangolins hold the unfortunate distinction of being the most trafficked mammals on Earth, with all eight species listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered due to poaching for their scales and meat.