Is a Pangolin an Armadillo? Core Differences Explained

Pangolins and armadillos are often mistaken for relatives due to their armored appearance. Despite this superficial resemblance, they belong to entirely different evolutionary lineages. This article highlights the fundamental differences that set them apart.

Understanding Pangolins

Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, are mammals distinguished by large, overlapping, plate-like scales made of keratin, the same protein found in human fingernails and hair. These scales cover most of their bodies, except for their undersides and face sides. They are the only known mammals with this type of scaly armor. When threatened, a pangolin curls into a tight ball, using its sharp scales for defense. Some species can also emit a noxious chemical spray.

Pangolins are nocturnal, solitary animals that primarily feed on ants and termites. They locate prey using a keen sense of smell and powerful front claws to dig into insect nests. Their long, sticky tongue, which can extend up to 40 cm (16 inches) in large species, sometimes even longer than their entire body, efficiently collects ants and termites. These are swallowed whole, as pangolins lack teeth. To aid digestion, they ingest small stones that grind food in their muscular stomachs.

There are eight pangolin species found across various habitats, including tropical forests, grasslands, and savannas, in both Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Some species are arboreal, living in hollow trees, while ground-dwelling species dig burrows up to 3.5 meters (11 feet) deep for shelter.

Understanding Armadillos

Armadillos, whose name means “little armored ones” in Spanish, are mammals with a distinct bony, leathery armor shell. This armor consists of dermal bone plates covered by keratinous scutes. The shell typically features rigid shields over the shoulders and hips, with flexible bands across the back and flanks for movement. Unlike pangolins, their undersides are not armored and are covered with soft skin and fur.

Approximately 20 armadillo species are native to the Americas, from the central United States to South America. They inhabit various environments, including forests and grasslands, often preferring warm, wet climates with loose soil for digging. Armadillos are primarily insectivores, feeding mainly on insects and other invertebrates, though some species also consume plant matter, eggs, and small vertebrates. They possess sharp claws for digging and a keen sense of smell to locate food.

Most armadillo species are solitary and nocturnal, spending up to 16 hours a day sleeping in burrows. Many escape predators by fleeing or rapidly digging, but only a few species, like the three-banded armadillo, can fully roll into a protective ball. Their low body temperature and lack of insulating fat mean their activity patterns can shift, becoming more diurnal in cooler weather to absorb warmth.

Core Differences and Distinct Lineages

Despite their similar armored appearances and shared insectivorous diets, pangolins and armadillos are not closely related. Their resemblance is an example of convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar traits by adapting to comparable ecological niches.

A primary distinction lies in their physical armor. Pangolins are covered in large, overlapping keratin scales, which are modified hairs. Armadillos, in contrast, possess bony plates (osteoderms) that are part of their skeleton, covered by thin skin and keratinous scutes. This structural difference means pangolin scales grow throughout life and move independently, while armadillo plates are rigid and integrated with their skeleton. Pangolins lack teeth, but armadillos possess teeth for chewing insects, with some species having up to 100 teeth.

Their geographic distributions are entirely separate. Pangolins are found exclusively in Asia and Africa. Conversely, all armadillo species are native to the Americas, from North to South America.

Evolutionary classification provides clear evidence of their distinctness. Pangolins belong to the mammalian order Pholidota, their sole surviving family being Manidae. Genetic evidence suggests their closest living relatives are carnivorans. Armadillos are classified under the order Cingulata, part of the superorder Xenarthra, along with anteaters and sloths. This means pangolins and armadillos represent two entirely separate branches on the mammalian family tree, having evolved their armored forms independently.

Ashkenazi Jewish Ancestry and Increased Cancer Risk

Did Neanderthals and Humans Mate? A Genetic Retrospective

DNA Genotyping: What It Is, How It Works, and Its Uses