Giant
pangolin
Smutsia gigantea
Background & Distribution
This is the largest of the African pangolin species, and is also the most rare. It is a nocturnal, fossorial species (ground pangolin), inhabiting forests and forest-savanna mosaics in Central and West Africa, marginally entering East Africa as well. Adults may attain a length of 1.5 m and weigh up to 33 kg, but individuals of this size are rare. They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and the population is believed to be declining.
Ecology
Giant pangolins are solitary and predominantly nocturnal. They inhabit tropical lowland forests, riparian forests and savannahs, and appear to be highly dependent on water. They avoid transformed habitat, and are thus highly susceptible to habitat transformation. During the day individuals take refuge in holes, in partially opened termite mounds, under debris or in thickets. They can dig their own burrows to sleep in but mainly rely on abandoned burrows dug by other animals which they then modify, probably making them easier to move around in and more secure.
Range
Giant pangolins occur in two apparently disjunct populations and this is because they are true forest animals that are restricted to the dense forest blocks of central and western Africa. The smaller West African population is largely restricted to coastal countries, while it has a wider distribution in Central Africa, very marginally entering East Africa as well. Evidence has been found showing new areas of their range, previously unknown. Throughout its range individuals are largely restricted to large conservation areas, where it is at least afforded some protection. They seem to survive well in intact forest whether it is protected or not.
Reproduction
Nothing is known about the breeding biology of this species. It is believed to have a similar breeding biology to Temminck’s pangolin, i.e. female giving birth to a single offspring probably only every second year. The baby stays with the mother until it is old enough to fend for itself.
Diet
They feed exclusively on ants (Palthothyreus and Dorylus) and termites (Macrotermes, Pseudocanthotermes, Odontotermes, Cubitermes, Apicotermes, and Protermes), although the exact species that they prey on have not yet been recorded. Termite mounds and ant nests are broken open with the large, muscular front limbs. Large terrestrial termite mounds that have hard exteriors are rarely broken open, instead giant ground pangolins appear to forage more on termite species that do not build hard mounds.