Armor vs. Scales: The Fascinating Differences Between Pangolins and Armadillos

Two Different Kinds of Armor

At first glance, both animals look like they’ve stepped out of a prehistoric era. However, their protection is made of entirely different materials:

• Pangolins: Their name comes from the Malay word pengguling, meaning “something that rolls up.” They are the only mammals in the world covered in keratin scales—the same protein found in your hair and fingernails.

• Armadillos: Known in Spanish as “little armored ones,” they have a carapace made of bony plates covered by a layer of tough, keratinous skin.

Geographic Worlds Apart

You will never run into both animals in the same forest.

• Pangolins live across various habitats in Africa and Asia.

• Armadillos are strictly New World residents, found primarily in Central and South America (with the Nine-banded armadillo reaching North America).

Survival Strategies

While both are famous for rolling into balls, only the Three-banded armadillo can roll into a completely sealed sphere. Most other armadillos prefer to burrow or run away at surprisingly high speeds (up to 30 mph!). Every species of pangolin, however, will roll into a tight ball, tucking their soft underbellies away and presenting sharp-edged scales to any predator.

The Way They Eat

Both are insectivores, specializing in ants and termites, but their “hardware” is different:

• The Pangolin: They have no teeth at all. Instead, they use a long, sticky tongue (which can be longer than their actual body) and swallow small stones, called gastroliths, to help grind food in their stomachs.

• The Armadillo: Unlike pangolins, armadillos have teeth to chew their food. They are also more opportunistic, sometimes supplementing their insect diet with fruit, eggs, or small invertebrates.

Different Threats

Both animals face challenges from habitat loss, but the pangolin faces a much darker reality.

• Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world. They are hunted for their meat and their scales, which are mistakenly believed to have medicinal properties.

• Armadillos are more frequently threatened by vehicle collisions and deforestation.

Ecosystem Roles

World Animal Protection calls pangolins the “guardians of the forest” because they protect trees from being overwhelmed by termites. Armadillos are considered “ecosystem engineers” because their extensive burrowing helps aerate soil and creates homes for other small creatures.