pangolin

noun

1. any mammal of the order Pholidota, of Africa and tropical Asia, having a covering of broad, overlapping, horny scales and feeding on ants and termites.

noun

1. 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 termitesAlso called: scaly anteater

n.1774, “scaly toothless mammal of Java,” from Malay peng-goling “roller,” from its habit of curling into a ball; from peng- (denominative prefix) + goling “to roll.” Later extended to related species in Asia and Africa.