Scales provide flexible, strong protection: pangolin

1 of 2 Pangolin / YU CHIH-WEI / License

Scales of pangolins provide flexibility yet strong protection by overlapping like roof shingles.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from biotic factors >
	Animals

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Protective packaging, flexible roofing or wall materials.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Without teeth and without any turn of speed, the pangolin has to be well protected. It has an armour of horny scales that overlap like shingles on a roof. At the slightest danger the animal tucks its head into its stomach and wraps itself into a ball with its muscular tail clasped tight around it. In my experience, there is no way in which a pangolin, once rolled, can be forced to unwind." (Attenborough 1979:228)

About the inspiring organism

Manis
Manis

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Protective packaging, flexible roofing or wall materials.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Construction, manufacturing

Pangolin backpack - Backpack

References

Attenborough, David. 1979. Life on Earth. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company. 319 p.

Scales provide flexible, strong protection: pangolin

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