A pangolin is a mammal covered in tough, overlapping scales that protect them from predators in the wild. They are often mistaken as reptiles, but they are actually scaly-skinned mammals. Pangolins are the only mammals wholly-covered in scales. They are also known as "scaly anteaters" because they eat ants, termites, and larvae. Pangolins have no teeth, so they pick up food with their sticky tongues, which can sometimes reach lengths greater than the animal’s body. They are highly solitary and shy creatures, active only at night, and they roll into a protective ball when threatened. Pangolins are thought to be the most trafficked animal in the world, targeted for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine in Africa and Asia, and their meat is also eaten by locals in Africa and as a delicacy in parts of Asia. All eight pangolin species are protected under national and international laws, but they are still facing declining populations because of illegal trade.