Victorian Taxidermy Specimen of a South African Temmincks Pangolin
A Victorian Taxidermy Specimen of a South African Temmincks Pangolin
19th Century

Size: 70cm long - 27½ ins long
19th Century

Size: 70cm long - 27½ ins long
Similar in shape to an armadillo or an anteater, the pangolin has curious, bony overlapping scales that act both as body armour and as camouflage. The scales are moveable and hard edged. They probably developed from modified hairs like a rhinoceros horn. They do not have teeth, but have an extremely long protrusible tongue in an elongated head which is used to catch insect prey consisting mostly of termites and ants whose mounds and nests it rips apart with its claws. These are ground to a pulp in its muscular horny surfaced stomach.
Victorian Taxidermy Specimen of a South African Temmincks Pangolin
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