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Pholidota|the orchid|Pholidota (plant) Automatic taxobox |name = Pangolin |fossil_range =|image = Manidae.jpg |image_caption = Living pangolins |status = CITES_A1 |status_system = CITES |status_ref = |parent_authority = Weber, 1904 |taxon = Manidae |authority = Gray, 1821 |type_genus = Manis |type_genus_authority = Linnaeus, 1758 |display_parents = 4 |subdivision_ranks = Genera |subdivision = * Manis * Phataginus * Smutsia |range_map = Minus ranges.png |range_map_caption = Species ranges#F89B3C|Manis pentadactyla|outline=gray#FF0800|Manis culionensis|outline=gray#FF0090|Phataginus tetradactyla|outline=gray#1560BD|Smutsia temminckii|outline=gray |synonyms = collapsible list |bullets=true |title=synonyms of order: |Afredentata|Lepidota|Manides|Maniformes|Manitheria|Nomarthra|Pholidotheria|Pholidotiformes|Pholidotina|Repentia|Scutata|Squamata|Squamigera collapsible list |bullets=true |title=synonyms of family: |Manida|Manididae|Manina thumb|A pangolin in defensive posture, Horniman Museum, London thumb|Ground pangolin in defensive posture Pangolins , sometimes known as scaly anteaters , are mammals of the order Pholidota (f|É|l|áµ»|Ë|d|oÊ|t|É, from Ancient Greek ÏολιδÏÏÏÏ 'clad in scales'). The one extant family, Manidae , has three genera: Manis, Phataginus and Smutsia. Manis comprises the four species found in Asia, while Phataginus and Smutsia include two species each, all found in sub-Saharan Africa. These species range in size from A number of extinct pangolin species are also known. Pangolins have large, protective keratin scales covering their skin; they are the only known mammals with this feature. They live in hollow trees or burrows, depending on the species. Pangolins are nocturnal, and their diet consists of mainly ants and termites, which they capture using their long tongues. They tend to be solitary animals, meeting only to mate and produce a litter of one to three offspring, which they raise for about two years. Pangolins are threatened by poaching (for their meat and scales, which are used in Chinese traditional medicine) and heavy deforestation of their natural habitats, and are the most trafficked mammals in the world. there are eight species of pangolin whose conservation status is listed in the threatened tier. Three (Manis culionensis, M. pentadactyla and M. javanica) are critically endangered, three (Phataginus tricuspis, Manis crassicaudata and Smutsia gigantea) are endangered and two (Phataginus tetradactyla and Smutsia temminckii) are vulnerable on the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.