Armadillo vs Pangolin: Difference and Comparison

Key Takeaways

  1. Armadillos are found in the Americas, while pangolins are found in Africa and Asia.
  2. Armadillos have a tough outer shell made of bony plates, while pangolins have tough scales made of keratin.
  3. Armadillos are omnivorous and eat insects, plants, and small animals, while pangolins are insectivorous and eat ants and termites.
Armadillo vs Pangolin

What is an Armadillo?

The Spanish word โ€œarmadillo,โ€ which refers to the presence of bone plates covering their bodies, translates to โ€œlittle armoured one.โ€ Contrary to popular perception, not every armadillo can enclose itself in its shell. The three-banded armadillo is the only animal that can do this, which confuses would-be predators by folding its head, back paws, and body into a hard ball.

Armadillos are the generalist feeders and feed on over 500 invertebrates like beetles, cockroaches, wasps, yellow jackets, fire ants, scorpions, spiders, snails, and white grubs. They prefer living in woodland or grassland settings in warm, moist climes. These incredible animals can easily cross small waterways. The nine-banded armadillo can swim or โ€œwalkโ€ along the bottom of rivers and hold its breath for up to six minutes.

The pink fairy armadillo, roughly 5 to 6 inches long, is the tiniest known armadillo, and the giant armadillo, which is 60 inches long and can weigh up to 120 pounds, is the largest. Giant armadillos have six inches long claws and can have up to 100 teeth. They are as big as mature dogs.

armadillo

What is a Pangolin?

Pangolins, often known as scaly anteaters due to their favoured diet, are the most trafficked mammals in the world. Asia and Africa are regions where demand for their meat and scales is growing. Also, there is a market for pangolin products in the US, particularly for the leather used for boots, bags, and belts.

/10

Science Quiz

Test your knowledge about topics related to science

1 / 10

What is the PH of H2O?

2 / 10

A bond that occurs between metals and nonmetals is called a/an _______________.

3 / 10

DNA carries the instructions for an organism to grow. DNA stands for.....

4 / 10

Quartz crystals normally used in quartz clocks etc. is chemically

5 / 10

Galvanised iron sheets have a coating of

6 / 10

What is the scientific name of frog?

7 / 10

The substances that enter a chemical reaction are called __________.

8 / 10

Balloons are filled with

9 / 10

The first link in all food chains is-

10 / 10

Name the metal which is easily cut by a simple knife?

Your score is

0%

Pangolins come in eight species and live on two continents. From Vulnerable to Critically Endangered, they are all. Pangolins have thick, overlapping scales covering them. These creatures can quickly fold themselves into a tight ball and devour ants and termites with an exceptionally long, sticky tongue when frightened.

Pangolins come in eight different species spread out over Asia and Africa. One of the most endangered groups of animals on the planet, these fantastic creatures result from habitat degradation and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists two of the eight pangolin species as Critically Endangered, and all eight are protected under local, national, and international law.

pangolin 1 scaled

Difference Between Armadillo and Pangolin.

  1. Armadillos weigh between nine and sixteen pounds, and their average length, including the tail, is about 75 cm. In contrast, pangolins can reach lengths of four feet and weigh between 3.5 and 73 pounds.
  2. Most armadillosโ€™ habitats are warm environments, such as grasslands, semi-deserts, and other wooded regions. Meanwhile, Sandier environments like savannahs, dry woodlands, and tropical forests are home to pangolins. They reside around water bodies.
  3. In June through September, armadillos mate, and pangolins only breed once a year, in the summer or fall.
  4. A pangolinโ€™s speed is merely 3 miles per hour, whereas an armadillo has the highest speed of 30 miles per hour.
  5. There is a proximity between the composition and structure of lizard and pangolin scales. For the armadillo, plates of dermal bone coated in keratinous scales known as scutes serve as its armour.

ย Comparison Between Armadillo and Pangolins

Parameter of comparisonArmadilloPangolins
Physical MeasurementsThe giant armadillo can reach a maximum length of 150 cm, with an average length of about 75 cm, tail included.Pangolins can reach lengths of four feet and range in weight from 3.5 to 73 lbs.
Mating and ReproductionArmadillos mate in late summer between June and September. ย Pangolin mating happens once each year, during the summer or autumn.
ShieldSharp, substantial, overlapping scales.Shoulders, hips, bony shells, and the backโ€™s interconnected bands of various species have various bands. ย 
TeethArmadillos have no teeth.Pangolin teeth are not premolars or molars No canines or incisors ย 
HabitatSouth Asia and South Africa.South America and North America.
Difference Between X and Y 2023 04 25T160313.891
References
  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419301519
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867402010371
One request?

Iโ€™ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. Itโ€™ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS โ™ฅ๏ธ

Want to save this article for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own articles box!

Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

Ads Blocker Detected!!!

We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Please support us by disabling these ads blocker.