The name “pangolin” is derived from the Malay word pengguling, which means “one who rolls up.” However, the modern name in Standard Malay is tenggiling; in the Philippine languages, it is tanggiling, goling, or balitong, and in Indonesian, it is trenggiling (all with the same meaning). Pangolins are not the most elegant or graceful animals you will come across, but they are the world’s most trafficked animal. Read on to discover other incredible facts about pangolins and why they are in high demand in countries like China and Vietnam.
1. Pangolin is the only mammal in the world that’s covered in scales from head to toe
Pangolins are the only mammals wholly covered in scales. 20% of their bodies are made up of scales. This is why many people think of pangolins as reptiles, but they are mammals. Their scales are more like a pinecone in appearance, making them different from those of a reptile. Pangolins’ scales are hard and made of keratin, the same protein that makes up our fingernails, toenails, hair, and the “teeth” of baleen whales.
2. There are eight species of pangolin
As of January 2020, there are eight species of pangolin, and all are listed as endangered species. The African ones are the Temminck’s pangolin, the giant pangolin, the black-bellied pangolin, and the white-bellied pangolin. The Asian ones are the Philippine pangolin, the Sunda pangolin, the Indian pangolin, and the Chinese pangolin. The African black-bellied is the smallest pangolin, with a length of 12-16 inches (30–40cm). Its weight ranges from 3.5 to 5.5 pounds. The giant pangolin is the largest, with a length of 4.6 ft. The giant pangolin weighs approximately 73 pounds (33 kg).
3. The pangolin’s tongue can be as long as its body
When extended, the pangolin’s tongue can reach 14 inches (40 cm). Its tongue is attached near its pelvis and the last pair of ribs, not in the mouth like most mammals. The tongue is also very sticky, allowing the pangolins to collect insects and retract them deep inside a sheath in the pangolin’s chest cavity when not in use.
4. The pangolin rolls itself up into an armor-plated ball when threatened
Pangolins quickly roll into a ball to protect their soft furry undersides when threatened. They also tuck their faces under the tail. Their scales are hard and sharp for extra protection against predators. Even big cats never succeed in biting their way through a pangolin’s armor. In addition to curling up, pangolins also emit a noxious-smelling chemical from their glands, similar to skunks, except they don’t spray. Predators often give up and leave these animals alone. Sadly, pangolin’s ability to curl into a ball does not protect them from humans, who hardly struggle when picking them up.
5. Pangolins are bipedal
Pangolins can walk on their hind legs while holding their front limbs and tail off the ground. Besides, they can still use their four limbs to walk. They developed bipedalism due to their long, curved, powerful claws on their forelimbs, which are not efficient enough to aid movement. Pangolins usually keep their front paws curled to protect the sharp front claws when walking on all four.
6. Pangolins are solitary animals and meet only to mate
Pangolins are shy, solitary animals who only come together to mate. Technically, mating only occurs at night when males and females meet near a watering hole. Males don’t seek out the females; they only mark their locations with feces and urine for the females to find them. If any competition arises over females, males fight for the opportunity to mate her using their tails as clubs to hit the other. Pangolins mate once a year, normally during the summer or autumn; their mating seasons are not clearly defined.
7. Pangolins are insectivorous
The pangolin’s diet consists primarily of insect species, including termites and ants. They eat the larvae as well. These animals have a healthy diet since they only eat one or two species of insects, which is about 5 to 7 oz (140g-200g). They don’t exceed this number even when many insects are available. Pangolins are regarded as important regulators of termite populations in their natural habitats.
8. Most pangolins are nocturnal animals
Most pangolins are active during the night and sleep during the day. They use their well-developed sense of smell to find insects at night and remain in their burrows during the day. The long-tailed pangolin (black-bellied pangolin) is among the few species of pangolin that stay active by day, while others are fast asleep and curled up into balls.
9. Pangolins have very poor vision and also lack teeth
Pangolins don’t have teeth. They also have poor vision and rely heavily on smell and hearing to locate prey. They have sharp claws and powerful front legs to help them disturb termite burrows or mounds. Their tongue structure and stomach play a key role in aiding pangolins in obtaining and digesting insects. Since they can’t chew prey, pangolins ingest gastroliths (small stones), which accumulate in their stomachs to help digestion. The pangolin’s gizzard also has spines made of keratin that help it grind up and digest its food.
10. Pangolins are threatened species
Pangolins are on the verge of extinction since their meat is considered a delicacy, and their scales are believed to cure several illnesses, particularly in China and Vietnam. The large-scale illegal trade in Asian pangolins is drastically decreasing their numbers, slowly driving them to extinction. Pangolin trafficking is now a huge illegal business. The government of Cameroon burned 8 tonnes of confiscated pangolin scales in 2017; this equals around 15,000 murdered pangolins. All eight pangolin species are now listed on the IUCN Red List as either vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.
