Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, are mammals of the order Pholidota (from the Greek word φολῐ́ς, "horny scale"). The 1 extant family, Manidae, has 3 genera: Manis, which comprises 4 species living in Asia; Phataginus, which comprises 2 species living in Africa; and Smutsia, which comprises 2 species also living in Africa. These species range in size from 30 to 100 cm (12 to 39 in). A number of extinct pangolin species are also known.
Pangolins have large, protective keratin scales covering their skin; they are the only known mammals with this feature. They live in hollow trees or burrows, depending on the species. Pangolins are nocturnal, and their diet consists of mainly ants and termites, which they capture using their long tongues. They tend to be solitary animals, meeting only to mate and produce a litter of 1-3 offspring, which are raised for about 2 years.
Pangolins are threatened by poaching (for their meat and scales) and heavy deforestation of their natural habitats, and are the most trafficked mammals in the world. Of the 4 species of pangolin, 4 (the long-tailed pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla), the tree pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis), the giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea), and the ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii)) are listed as vulnerable, 2 (the Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis)) are listed as endangered, and 2 (the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) and the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica)) are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.
This category contains all pangolins that have appeared on Wild Kratts.
All items (2)
