Pangolin Profile

10. Pangolin Profile
 

Common Name: Pangolin
Scientific Name: Pholidota spp. (Note: There are 8 species in total – 4 in Africa, 4 in Asia)
Genus: Manis (Asian species), Phataginus and Smutsia (African species)
Family: Manidae
Order: Pholidota
Class: Mammalia
Phylum: Chordata
Conservation Status: Ranges from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered (IUCN – depending on species); pangolins are a species which many call the most endangered one on earth. On average, one pangolin is poached every 5 minutes.

Physical Description

Pangolins are unique, scale-covered mammals that resemble walking pinecones. Covered in large, overlapping keratin scales, they are the only mammals in the world with this kind of armor. When threatened, pangolins curl into a tight ball, making it nearly impossible for predators to penetrate their tough exterior. Despite their reptilian look, they are warm-blooded mammals. They have elongated snouts, no teeth, long curved claws, and extremely long sticky tongues used for feeding.

• Length: 30 cm – 1 meter (depending on species)

• Weight: 1.5 – 33 kg (varies by species)

• Color: Shades of brown, olive, or yellowish-grey

• Body Covering: Large keratin scales covering most of the body, leaving the underbelly soft and vulnerable. FYI: Keratin is the same material your nails are made from :)
  
  

Their powerful forelimbs and claws are adapted for tearing into ant and termite mounds, and their tails can be used for balance or defense, especially in tree-dwelling species. Among some pangolin species, their tongue can be longer than the rest of their body (excluding the tail)! Large pangolin species can have a tongue of up to 70 cm!

Habitat

Pangolins are found across parts of Africa and Asia. Each species occupies different types of ecosystems, ranging from forests to savannas. Some are arboreal (tree-dwelling), while others are ground-dwelling and dig burrows for shelter.

• Primary habitats: Tropical and subtropical forests, savannas, grasslands

• Burrow depth (for terrestrial species): Up to 3.5 meters deep with multiple chambers

• Tree height range (for arboreal species): Up to 10 meters high
  
  

Pangolins require habitats that support abundant ant and termite populations, which make up the biggest part of their diet.

Speed & Agility

Pangolins aren't built for speed. Instead, they rely on stealth and their tough keratine armor for defense. On land, they walk awkwardly using their hind legs and knuckle-walk with their front claws tucked under. Tree pangolins are more agile and adept climbers.

• Top Speed: Around 5 km/h (terrestrial species)

• Climbing Ability: Exceptional in tree-dwelling species like the African white-bellied pangolin

• Defensive posture: Rolls into an armored ball when threatened
  
  

While they can’t outrun predators, their ability to burrow quickly or climb trees offers some protection in the wild. In addition to this, their armor provides a solid protection. Even lions, hyenas & leopards have trouble biting through the tough scales! (As a comparison, hyenas can bite through bones...)

Diet

Pangolins are specialized insectivores, feeding almost exclusively on ants and termites. They use their keen sense of smell to locate insect nests, then rip them open with their claws and extract prey using their incredibly long, sticky tongues.

• Primary prey: Ants & termites

• Occasional diet: Larvae, insect eggs, and other small invertebrates

• Tongue length: Up to 70 cm – longer than the body in some species!

• Teeth: None – they use a muscular stomach with small stones to "grind" their food
  
  

They can consume up to 70 million insects per year, playing a vital role in regulating insect populations in their ecosystems.

Behavior and Social Structure

Pangolins are solitary and nocturnal. They are elusive and secretive, which makes them difficult to study in the wild. Most species are highly territorial and only come together for mating.

• Activity: Nocturnal (active at night), with some crepuscular behavior

• Territoriality: Males may have larger ranges that overlap with several females

• Senses: Poor eyesight but excellent sense of smell

• Communication: Scent marking via anal glands; some hissing, puffing, or tail-thumping when threatened
  
  

Pangolins are shy and avoid confrontation, depending on camouflage, hiding, and their armor to avoid predators.

Reproduction

Pangolins reproduce slowly, which makes them particularly vulnerable to population decline. Mating generally occurs annually, with most births timed for favorable environmental conditions.

• Breeding season: Varies by species and region; often coincides with rainy seasons

• Gestation period: 4 – 7 months (varies by species)

• Litter size: Typically 1 (occasionally 2)

• Weaning age: Around 3 – 4 months

• Young: Born with soft scales, which harden within a few days. They ride on their mother’s back or tail until they are more mobile themselves.

Maternal care is strong; the young stay with the mother until independent.

Did You Know?

• Living Armor: Pangolins can curl into a perfect ball, tucking their soft underparts inside and protecting themselves with their sharp, overlapping scales. Their scales are so tough they can even injure predators like lions or hyenas.
  
  

• World Record Tongue: Some pangolins have tongues longer than their body (excluding the tail), allowing them to probe deep into termite tunnels - some species have got tongues of up to 70 cm long.

• Silent Forest Walkers: Their walk is nearly silent due to their soft padded feet and stealthy movement—perfect for sneaking up on ant colonies.

• Burrow Engineers: Terrestrial pangolins construct complex burrow systems, which also serve as shelter for other animals after they're abandoned.

• Involuntary Victims: Despite being elusive, pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world, primarily for their scales and meat.
  
  

Role in the Ecosystem

Pangolins play a critical ecological role by controlling insect populations. A single pangolin can consume thousands of ants and termites in a night, helping prevent overpopulation of these insects, which can be harmful to ecosystems and agriculture.

They also help aerate soil when digging, improving soil quality and nutrient cycling.

Why They're At Risk

Critically Endangered (IUCN – some species)
Pangolins are facing an unprecedented crisis due to illegal wildlife trade and habitat destruction. According to many conservationists, the pangolin is the most trafficked animal on earth.

Main threats:

• • Poaching for traditional medicine (especially in Asia), which by the way have never been proven to work

  • Trafficking for their scales and meat

  • Habitat loss due to deforestation and agriculture

• Most trafficked mammal: It is estimated that over 1 million pangolins have been illegally traded in the last decade. It's estimated one pangolin is illegally poached every 5 minutes. 

• Conservation needs: Stronger enforcement of wildlife protection laws, anti-poaching efforts, and increased awareness globally
  
  

You Can Help:
Support conservation organizations that focus on pangolin protection, report illegal wildlife trade, and avoid products that may contain pangolin parts. Awareness and education are essential for ensuring their survival. An animal that has walked the earth for over 80 million years, is now threatened with extinction due to weak protection. You can for example adopt a pangolin at WWF International or support pangolin conservation projects like the Pangolin Conservation & Research Foundation (PCRF) ...