Pangolins

Pangolins: The World’s Only Scaly Mammals
Scientific name: Pholidota
Pangolins are unique, armored mammals known for their protective keratin scales and their specialized diet of ants and termites. Found in Africa and Asia, these gentle creatures are often called “scaly anteaters” and are sadly the most trafficked mammals in the world due to the high demand for their scales and meat. Here’s what makes pangolins fascinating and crucial to their ecosystems:
Distinctive Appearance
- Scales: Pangolins are the only mammals covered in protective, overlapping scales made of keratin, the same material found in human hair and nails. These scales account for about 20% of their body weight.
- Size: Depending on the species, pangolins range in size from 12 to 39 inches (30 to 100 cm) in length, with their tails sometimes adding an extra 20 inches (50 cm).
- They have long, sticky tongues that can be longer than their body, designed for slurping up ants and termites from deep within nests.
Species
- There are eight species of pangolins, four found in Africa and four in Asia, including the Chinese pangolin, Indian pangolin, Sunda pangolin, and Philippine pangolin in Asia, and the ground pangolin, giant pangolin, tree pangolin, and long-tailed pangolin in Africa.
Diet
- Pangolins are insectivores, feeding almost exclusively on ants, termites, and other small invertebrates.
- They lack teeth and use their long tongues to scoop up insects, which are then ground down in their muscular stomachs with the help of ingested small stones and sand.
Behavior
- Most pangolins are nocturnal and solitary, spending the night searching for food and the day resting in burrows or hollow trees.
- When threatened, pangolins curl into a tight ball, using their tough scales as armor to protect their soft underparts, making it almost impossible for predators to attack them. Their name comes from the Malay word “penggulung,” which means “roller,” a reference to this defensive behavior.
Habitat
- Pangolins are found in a variety of habitats, including tropical forests, savannas, and grasslands.
- Depending on the species, they may be arboreal (tree-dwelling), terrestrial (ground-dwelling), or semi-arboreal. Some species are adept burrowers and dig large, deep burrows to live in.
Reproduction
- Pangolins have a low reproductive rate, typically giving birth to one offspring after a gestation period of 4 to 5 months. The young pangolin, known as a “pangopup,” is born with soft scales that harden as it grows.
- The mother carries the pangopup on her tail, nursing it for several months until it can fend for itself.
Lifespan
- In the wild, pangolins can live up to 20 years, although their lifespan is often shorter due to poaching and habitat loss. In captivity, they tend to have shorter lives due to stress and difficulties in maintaining their specialized diet.
Conservation Status
- All eight species of pangolins are threatened, with some species, such as the Sunda pangolin and Chinese pangolin, listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
- Pangolins are heavily targeted by poachers for their scales, which are falsely believed to have medicinal properties in traditional Asian medicine. Additionally, pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in some cultures.
- International trade in pangolins is prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), but illegal trafficking continues to be a major issue.
Ecological Role
- As natural pest controllers, pangolins help regulate insect populations, particularly ants and termites, which can become pests for agriculture.
- Their burrowing behavior also aerates the soil, which benefits plant life and promotes healthy ecosystems.
Cultural Significance
- In various cultures, pangolins have symbolic importance. In some African and Asian folklore, they are believed to have mystical powers, and their scales are used in traditional rituals or as talismans.
- Unfortunately, this cultural significance, combined with myths about the medicinal properties of their scales, has contributed to their exploitation.
Interesting Facts
- Pangolins can consume up to 70 million ants or termites per year, making them highly efficient at controlling insect populations.
- Despite their formidable scales, pangolins are shy and pose no threat to humans, relying solely on their armor and ability to roll into a ball for defense.
Conservation Efforts
- Various organizations are working to protect pangolins by strengthening anti-poaching laws, raising awareness, and supporting rescue and rehabilitation efforts for trafficked animals.
- Pangolins have also become a symbol of global wildlife trafficking crises, with international conservation campaigns focusing on their plight to curb illegal trade.
Pangolins are truly unique creatures with irreplaceable ecological roles. Sadly, their survival is under serious threat due to human activities. Protecting them requires urgent global action, particularly through the enforcement of anti-poaching laws and educating the public about the importance of pangolins and the false myths surrounding their scales.