What is a
pangolin?
There are currently eight recognised pangolin species worldwide, of which four occur in Asia and four in Africa.
Together, the eight species comprise their own Order: Pholidota. Pangolins are unique, as they are the only mammals whose bodies are covered in keratin scales rather than fur. The one thing that they all have in common is that they are entirely myrmecophagous – meaning they only feed on ants and termites.
The 4 African Pangolin Species
The four African pangolin species are charismatic, and are all different in their defining features. When threatened, pangolins curl into a tight, ball – a unique defense that makes them nearly impenetrable and mostly safe from natural predators—but tragically, not from humans. Pangolins have been on Earth for 80 million years, evolving with dinosaurs and deserve a future in the wild places of our planet.
Pangolin scales are composed of keratin (the same material that makes up human fingernails). The belly, underside of the head, and inside of the limbs are not covered with scales. All pangolins have long, strong claws on their front limbs which are used for digging (and climbing in the arboreal species). The arboreal and semi-arboreal pangolin species have long, curved claws on their hind feet and a long, prehensile tail to further assist them when climbing. The ground pangolin species (Smutsia) have short nails on their hind feet, an adaptation to their terrestrial way of life. Additionally, the ground pangolin species are considered nocturnal, only become active earlier in winter with some individuals becoming entirely diurnal during winter. Young animals are also more prone to being active during the day. While the White-bellied pangolin is also nocturnal, the black-bellied pangolin is diurnal.
Pangolins are entirely myrmecophagous – that is to say they only feed on ants and termites. The proportion of ants and termites consumed varies seasonally and geographically, but it is thought that 90–95% of the diet consists of ants and the remaining 5–10% of termites. A single pangolin literally consumes millions of ants, termites and their larvae each year and in general are quite particular about which species they prefer. The tongue is very long – as long as the head and body combined – and is thin and covered in sticky saliva. The tongue is retracted into a special tongue sheath. This transitions into a muscular component which attaches to and runs along a cartilagenous xiphisternum that extends along and finally anchors to the right abdominal wall.
Depending on the species multiple female pangolin territories may overlap with a single resident male pangolin territory. In drier regions, a single female and male territories may overlap. Territory boundaries are presumably demarcated through scent-marking. Males have rarely been seen to engage in combat, but when this happens, a larger animal may try to wrap around his smaller opponent and squeeze him.
Pangolins give birth to live young and the females have pectoral mammary glands, like humans and elephants. Females give birth to one baby a year (called a pup) and may give birth to twins, although this is rare. Gestation periods are unrecorded and various authors have claimed length of gestation between 3 to 10 months. White and black bellied pangolins have a recorded gestation period of 140 – 150 days and Temminck’s pangolins have an estimated gestation period of 105 – 140 days. It is believed that the ground pangolin species only breed every second year. The pups are born with fully-formed but soft scales, which harden over the first few days. The mother leaves the baby in a burrow (terrestrial species) or hollow tree or log (arboreal species), periodically returning to nurse it. When about one month old, the baby accompanies the mother while she forages. The pup hitches a ride on the base of the mother’s tail, hooking its claws under the mother’s scales. As the pup grows it becomes more adventurous, alternating riding on the mother’s back with foraging nearby. Pangolin pup dispersal ages vary from species to species and can be anything from 3 to 6 months up to a year before they become independent.
Pangolins make very few sounds (as they have no vocal chords). Different species may create varying sounds such as ‘chuffing’ through inhalation or exhalation of breath which could depict a warning, fear or aggression. When they walk or climb, their scales can be heard rubbing against one another and against the vegetation. Their breathing can be heard during feeding and while they are locating ant nests.
It is unknown how long wild pangolins live for as there is no data on their longevity, to date. The oldest recorded captive pangolin (an Asian species) living for more than 19 years in a zoo. This is the exception, however, as pangolins do not survive well in captivity and most die very soon after entering captivity. This is the reason why there are virtually no pangolins in captivity or in zoos worldwide.
All four African pangolins are listed on CITES Appendix I, while also being protected by law in many range states.
Why Are Pangolin’s Threatened?
“Without urgent conservation action at a global scale, all eight species of pangolins face extinction,”
– Matthew H. Shirley, co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Pangolin Specialist Group.
