Species of pangolins

There are eight species of pangolin, and all are listed as threatened with extinction.

Four pangolin species live in Asia: the Chinese Pangolin, the Sunda or Malayan Pangolin, the Philippine Pangolin, and the Indian or Thick-tailed Pangolin. There are four African species which are the Cape or Temminck’s ground Pangolin, the Giant ground or Giant Pangolin, the Tree or African White-bellied Pangolin, and the Long-tailed or Black-bellied Pangolin.

Asian pangolins:

Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) – Critically Endangered
Sunda or Malayan Pangolin (Manis javanica) – Critically Endangered
Philippine Pangolin (Manis culionensis) – Endangered
Indian or Thick-tailed Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) – Endangered

African pangolins:

Cape or Temminck’s ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) – Vulnerable
Giant ground Pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) – Vulnerable
Tree or African White-bellied Pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) – Vulnerable
Long-tailed or Black-bellied Pangolin (Uromanis tetradactyla) – Vulnerable

Dan Challender

Sunda pangolin

Pangolin facts:

Also known as ‘scaly anteaters’ pangolins are the world’s only truly scaly mammals.
The word "pangolin" comes from the Malay word "pengguling", meaning "something that rolls up".
Pangolins have been described variously as ‘walking pinecones’, ‘artichokes with tails’ and looking like ‘modern day dinosaurs’.
Although scientists used to think pangolins are closely related to other ant-eating species (e.g. anteaters and armadillos) we now know that their closest relatives are the carnivores.
Pangolins are adapted for eating ants and termites.
Their long, sticky tongues are longer than their bodies.
They have powerful claws for burrowing and ripping apart ant and termite nests.
Their defence mechanism is to curl up into a ball, scales out, which is virtually impenetrable – an excellent defence against their natural predators (lions, hyenas, leopards). Sadly, this defence is ineffective against poachers.
The main threat to pangolins is from poaching and illegal trade, driven largely by increasing demand for pangolin products from the Far East, particularly China and Vietnam.
Pangolins are now the world’s most illegally traded wild mammal – more than one million poached over the past decade (more than rhinos, elephants, and tigers combined).
A pangolin is poached every 5 minutes.
Asian pangolins have hair between their scales.
Although normally shy, Indian pangolins are reported to wander into villages and have been known to dig through concrete and into houses.
The Philippine pangolin is endemic to the Philippines, inhabiting four islands including Palawan and Culion.
The Sunda pangolin has a long history of being traded internationally. In Asia it has the undesirable status as the mammal most frequently found in illicit trade.
Sunda pangolin scales are predominately dark brown in colour, though they are frequently found with ‘white’ scales on their tails; the reason for this characteristic is unknown.
Chinese pangolins spend the winter months in deep burrows that maintain stable temperatures and are excavated near termite nests, which supply a source of food.
The tree pangolin is the most frequently encountered pangolin in Africa.
The giant ground pangolin is the largest extant species of pangolin.
It is thought the giant ground pangolin is now extinct in Rwanda.
The Cape pangolin often uses the burrows of other animals including aardvarks and aardwolves.
With 46-47 vertebrae the long-tailed pangolin holds the record for the highest number of vertebrae among mammals.