The Chinese pangolin (or Manis pentadactyla) is a critically endangered insectivorous species native to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Taiwan and Southern China. They are small, secretive and slow-moving animals, their most distinguishing feature being their layered armour-like keratinous scales. Chinese pangolins are between 40 and 58cm long with a tail measuring 25 to 38cm. They spend their days sleeping in their burrows, and their nights foraging for ants, termites and other insects.
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Manis pentadactyla
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chinese-pangolin
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Animal Facts
Pangolins are the only mammal with scales, they are also the most trafficked animal in the world.
Newborn Chinese pangolins have soft scales. They harden when the infant is 3 days old.
The pangolin's tongue can be 40cm in length; they use it to hunt and eat ants and termites.
Pangolins do not have teeth. Instead, they swallow small stones that remain in their stomach and help grind up their food after ingestion.
When threatened, pangolins will curl up into a tight ball, relying on their tough scales to protect themselves.