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deckardcanineThe pangolins, otherwise called scaly anteaters,
Form Pholidota, an order apart
From regular anteaters, not even closely
Related. Sound odd? Well, that’s only the start.
Nine species survive, and their next closest kin
Are Carnivora, order of dogs, bears, and cats.
No pangolins have any teeth, just a tongue
That’s attached near the pelvis for snatching up ants.
Their name comes from Malay for “one who rolls up,”
As they do so to ward off a predator’s fangs.
Unlike armadillos, they’re covered in keratin
Scales that are tougher than chain mail; oh, dang.
If that’s not enough, they produce a foul chemical,
Much like a skunk, from a gland by the tail.
They also are known on occasion to swing
The same limb at an enemy’s head like a flail.
Their claws are quite long, but they’re not big on scratching
At foes; they would rather go digging for food.
They walk on their knuckles, if not just their hind legs
With clasped claws as if they don’t want to be rude.
Alas, humans poach them for scales and for meat.
They’re more trafficked than all other mammals today.
Most pangolin types are endangered; let’s hope
We can save them before they all vanish away.
Form Pholidota, an order apart
From regular anteaters, not even closely
Related. Sound odd? Well, that’s only the start.
Nine species survive, and their next closest kin
Are Carnivora, order of dogs, bears, and cats.
No pangolins have any teeth, just a tongue
That’s attached near the pelvis for snatching up ants.
Their name comes from Malay for “one who rolls up,”
As they do so to ward off a predator’s fangs.
Unlike armadillos, they’re covered in keratin
Scales that are tougher than chain mail; oh, dang.
If that’s not enough, they produce a foul chemical,
Much like a skunk, from a gland by the tail.
They also are known on occasion to swing
The same limb at an enemy’s head like a flail.
Their claws are quite long, but they’re not big on scratching
At foes; they would rather go digging for food.
They walk on their knuckles, if not just their hind legs
With clasped claws as if they don’t want to be rude.
Alas, humans poach them for scales and for meat.
They’re more trafficked than all other mammals today.
Most pangolin types are endangered; let’s hope
We can save them before they all vanish away.