noun
pangolin; scaly anteater
Refers to the animal; the katakana form センザンコウ is the usual written form.
センザンコウは絶滅危惧種に指定されている。
Pangolins are designated as an endangered species.
Katakana spelling is standard for this animal name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly encountered in scientific or literary contexts.
The Japanese word センザンコウ is derived from Chinese 穿山甲 (chuānshānjiǎ), literally 'mountain-penetrating armor', referring to the pangolin's scales and burrowing behavior.