This order includes all species of pangolins, which were once part of the obsolete group of “toothless” mammals. Pangolins have no teeth but a long, worm-like, highly protrusible tongue adapted to a diet of ants and termites. Their bodies are covered with large horny scales, which protect them during volvation, i.e. when they curl up to protect themselves from predators. The forelegs are tridactyl and have prominent claws. Despite their morphological and behavioural similarities with armadillos, pangolins are very different from them evolutionarily and are closer to carnivores.