pangolin

pan·go·lin  (pngg-ln, pn-)

n.

Any of several long-tailed, scale-covered mammals of the order Pholidota of tropical Africa and Asia, having a long snout and a sticky tongue for catching and eating ants and termites. Also called scaly anteater.

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[Malay pengguling : peng-, instrumental pref. + guling, to roll over (from its habit of rolling up into a ball when frightened).]

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pangolin [pæŋˈgəʊlɪn]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any mammal of the order Pholidota found in tropical Africa, S Asia, and Indonesia, having a body covered with overlapping horny scales and a long snout specialized for feeding on ants and termites Also called scaly anteater

[from Malay peng-gōling, from gōling to roll over; from its ability to roll into a ball]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

pangolin - toothless mammal of southern Africa and Asia having a body covered with horny scales and a long snout for feeding on ants and termites anteater, scaly anteater eutherian, eutherian mammal, placental, placental mammal - mammals having a placenta; all mammals except monotremes and marsupials genus Manis, Manis - type genus of the Manidae