Today is World Pangolin Day, an event dedicated to highlighting this unique and rare mammal. Eight different species of pangolins live in Asia and Africa, and all are known for their solitary, nocturnal lives. Those sharp, protective scales are made of keratin, the same stuff as your hair and fingernails. Pangolins also have short legs and long, curved claws that come in handy when digging into an ant mound or a termite nest for food. By curling into a ball, the pangolin protects its belly and the inner parts of its limbs—the only areas of a pangolin’s body not covered by thick scales. But that defense is useless against its biggest threats, which include deforestation and poaching. We’re grateful for the conservation organizations around the world that are working to protect this species and its habitat.
It’s not a pinecone, it’s a pangolin
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Surfer s paradise
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A notorious gunfight that was incorrectly named
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Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina, Sicily, Italy
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Cape Town at dusk
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Tokyo welcomes a futuristic new art museum
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Helloooooo, Innsbruck
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Nazca boobies, Wolf Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
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World Childrens Day
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Ready. Set. Snow.
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Silent night, sparkling lights, and hearts full of joy
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Assembling the Smithsonian
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Big wheels on a big mountain
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Taughannock Falls State Park
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Manatees rebound
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Jerte Valley in bloom
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Frost-covered dunes on Mars
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The city of Osaka at night, Japan
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Rainbow Mountain
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Mardi Gras flower power
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Square Tower House in Mesa Verde National Park
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Diwali lights in Guwahati, India
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Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
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Look before you leap
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World Lizard Day
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Happy Fathers Day!
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The birth of Bauhaus
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Asteroid Day
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World Childrens Day
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Surströmming Day
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Rays on parade