1) My organism is the ground pangolin. The ground pangolin is one of the four species of pangolin. They can be found in the southern and eastern Africa in savannas and woodlands.
2) Ground Pangolins have an outer layer of overlapping scales that are hard along its back. On its belly there are no scales; it is soft covered in fur. The Pangolins limbs are made to dig as each limb has three claws. They have long tails along with small heads enabling them to roll easier. They also have muscular stomachs to help with digestion.
Source: https://animalia.bio/ground-pangolin#:~:text=Pangolins%20have%20long%2C%20broad%20tails,similarly%20to%20a%20bird's%20gizzard
3) The protective scales of the Pangolin line its back. These scales are made up of keratin (the same material as human nails). The scales are used for protection, allowing the Pangolin to roll up into a ball. Using its scales which are on the outside they are protected from predators.
Source: Pangolins | ZSL. (n.d.). The Zoological Society of London. https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/species/pangolins
4) Pangolins use their claws a lot. Mainly they are used for digging. This includes destroying termite and ant nest. Pangolins tuck their claws in when walking. In addition their claws can be used to climb trees.
Source: About Pangolins - Save pangolins. (n.d.). Save Pangolins. https://www.savepangolins.org/what-is-a-pangolin
5) Pangolins have adapted to predators over the years. Pangolins with no scales would not survive and were eaten. While the adapted Pangolins with scales survived to reproduce. Creating generations of scaled Pangolins.
Source: https://dnascience.plos.org/2016/10/20/how-the-pangolin-got-its-scales-a-genetic-just-so-story/