I have a friend that asked me:

"What makes a pangolin unique?"

I learned from Google that they eat bugs, but so do many other animals.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

"only mammals with scales" might be the answer he is looking for

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/11374800/Pangolins-13-facts-about-the-worlds-most-hunted-animal.html

The pangolin's large scales are made of keratin, the same material of which our fingernails, rhino horns and bird talons are made - and account for 20% of its weight. The scales are very hard and protect pangolin against animal predators, yet in traditional Chinese medicine are dried and roasted as a method of relieving palsy, stimulating lactation and draining pus. As a result, pangolin scales can sell on the black market for over $3,000 a kilogram, and have even been used to make coats.

It is estimated that 100,000 pangolins are captured every year from across Africa and Asia, and has now rendered the scaly mammals the most trafficked animal on earth, with some estimates claiming that sales now account for up to 20 per cent of the entire wildlife black market.

This post was edited by card_sultan on Aug 19 2015 06:48pm