What is A Pangolin? | Save Pangolins

Pangolin

Pangolins are also called as “scaly anteaters”. The name pangolin comes from the Malay word “pengguling”, meaning roller--representative of how pangolins behave when they feel threatened, rolling up into a ball. They are covered in tough, overlapping scales. These are only mammals in the world covered in scales. They are not reptiles. This mammal’s scales are actually made up of keratin, and these scales make up about 15% of its weight. The pangolin has a small head and a long, broad tail. It has no external ears. Pangolins have no teeth and instead, have a gizzard-like stomach that is specially adapted for grinding food. They consume small stones and sand to assist the grinding. Pangolins are insectivorous. They predate almost exclusively on ants and termites using an extraordinary long, sticky tongue. Pangolins are critically endangered species.

Life span     :  20 years

Weight         :  30 to 40 lb (common Pangolin)

Size              : 12 to 39 inch long depending on the species

Gestation    : 5 months

Predators    : Leopards, hyenas, humans

Species of Pangolins

There are a total of eight species of pangolin on our planet. 

Four live in Asia:

• Thick-tailed Pangolin ( Indian Pangolin), Manis crassicaudata — ‘Near Threatened’

• Phillipine Pangolin, Manis culionensis — ‘Near Threatened’

• Sunda Pangolin (also called Malayan Pangolin), Manis javanica — ‘Endangered’

• Chinese Pangolin, Manis pentadactyla — ‘Endangered’

Four others live in Africa:

• Three-Cusped Pangolin (also called African White-Bellied Pangolin and Tree Pangolin), Phataginus tricuspis — ‘Near Threatened’

• Giant Ground Pangolin, Smutsia gigantea — ‘Near Threatened’

• Cape Pangolin (also called Temminck’s Pangolin), Smutsia temminckii — ‘Least Concern’

• Long-Tailed Pangolin (also called Black-Bellied Pangolin), Uromanis tetradactyla — ‘Least                      Concern’

Habitat

Pangolins are found in a variety of habitats including tropical and flooded forests, thick brush, cleared and cultivated areas, and savannah grassland; in general they occur where large numbers of ants and termites are found. Asian pangolins in particular are threatened by loss of habitat due to expanding agriculture and other human uses. Some pangolin species such as the Malayan pangolin also sleep in the hollows and forks of trees and logs.

Why do pangolins need conservation action?

Pangolins are little studied and little understood species. However, they are poached and illegally traded in huge numbers in Asia, while in Africa they are hunted for bushmeat and use in traditional African medicine, though evidence now suggests African pangolins and their derivatives are being targeted for trade to Asian markets. Pangolins are being eaten to extinction. An estimated 100000 are illegally  traded every yearConsequently, pangolin populations are in severe decline. The biggest threat to all pangolin species today is illegal, commercial hunting for human consumption.

Amazing facts of pangolins

• Baby pangolins travel around with their mothers by riding on the base of her tail.

• Giant ground pangolins are the largest of all eight species. One was found to weigh 33 kilograms (72.6 pounds) — the largest pangolin ever recorded! Long-tailed pangolins are the smallest, weighing around 2-3 kg (about 4-6 pounds).

• They emit a noxious acid like skunks, when they are threatened, to defend themselves.

• Their eyesight is dreadful.

"World Pangolins Day is celebrated on 3rd Saturday  in February"

"SAVE THE PANGOLIN"