THE FOUR AFRICAN PANGOLIN SPECIES

Temminck’s pangolin

The Temminck’s pangolin (Smutsia temminckii), is one of Africa’s most remarkable mammals—covered head to tail in tough, overlapping scales made of keratin, the same material as our fingernails. Found across southern and eastern Africa, this species leads a mostly solitary and nocturnal life. With no teeth, it uses its powerful claws to dig into termite mounds and ant nests, then extends its incredibly long, sticky tongue to feed. One of the most charming things about this particular species is the way it walks—upright on its hind legs (bi-pedal), with its front claws resting gently together and its long tail stretched out for balance. It’s just another reason this shy, scale-covered creature is so utterly fascinating and unlike anything else on Earth.

The white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) is the smallest pangolin of them all – usually around the size of a house cat and weighing up to 3kg’s as an adult. The “three-cusped” shape of its scales (which gives it the name tricuspis) is distinct in pups, becoming elongated, with a more pointed tip as it grows. This species is nocturnal and semi-arboreal, at home in the trees and on the ground. Like all pangolin species, the white-bellied pangolin pup rides on the mother’s back, when they are old enough to leave the burrow, but still too young to forage on their own. Pups are nursed on milk, from mammary glands, which is common to all mammals.

The black-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla) is one of nature’s most enchanting little creatures—small, tree-loving, and covered in golden-brown scales that are in striking contrast against its dark belly. Found in the tropical forests of Central and West Africa, this pangolin is a master climber, using its long, prehensile tail like a fifth limb to traverse the canopy of trees, 50 to 100 metres high, in search of ants and termites. Black bellied pangolins are the only pangolin species that is diurnal (active during the day). Protecting this rare, tree-top dweller is key to preserving the rich biodiversity of Africa’s forests.

The giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) is the gentle giant of the pangolin world. This is the largest of all eight species, yet one of the most elusive. Found in the dense rainforests and savannas of Central and West Africa, the nocturnal giant moves with quiet grace, using its powerful front claws to break into termite mounds and ant nests and its long, sticky tongue to feast on ants and termites. With its large, overlapping scales and slow, deliberate movements, the giant pangolin is ancient, mysterious, and wise. Sadly, like all pangolins, it’s under threat from poaching and habitat loss. Protecting the giant pangolin means protecting the heart of Africa’s rainforests—and standing up for one of the animal kingdom’s most extraordinary survivors.

RANGES

The four species of pangolin that occur in Africa, have different ranges. In the images below, we share an integrative comparison of ranges of both ground and tree pangolin species.