Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219638
Chinese Pangolin
Manis pentadactylaAlso known as Scaly Anteater, Formosan Pangolin
Chinese pangolins are solitary, nocturnal mammals renowned for their protective armor of overlapping keratin scales. They use powerful front claws to excavate deep subterranean burrows for sleeping and dig into underground nests to feed on ants and termites with a long, sticky tongue. When threatened, they roll into an impenetrable ball and release a pungent secretion from specialized anal glands.
NocturnalBurrowingScaly
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Ants
- Termites
- Insect larvae
Predators
- Tigers
- Leopards
- Pythons
ThreatsPoaching for illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss
HabitatsSubtropical forests, bamboo thickets, and agricultural areas
Life span15–20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyManidae
- SpeciesManis pentadactyla
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Rolls into a tight ball when threatened; powerful digging claws can scratch if handled.
- What to notice
- Recognized by brown keratin scales, a tapered snout, and a small, heavy-set body.
- Support conservation
- Keep a safe distance, do not disclose specific location data, and report suspected poaching.
Responsible observation
- Observe quietly: Use low light or red illumination during night walks to avoid startling nocturnal foragers.
- Report sightings responsibly: Turn off geotagging on photos to protect local populations from illegal harvesting.
Close Relative (c) Firman, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY), carregado por Firman · cc-by
Close Relative 
Close Relative (c) Shukran888, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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