Pangolin Habitat Map: Do You Know These Facts?

Map created by Craig Pemberton via Wikimedia

The map above shows the habit range of Pangolins (aka scaly anteaters) in Asia and Africa.

There are 8 species in total, 4 in Asia and 4 in Africa. They range in size from from 30 to 100 cm (12 to 39 in).

They 8 species (and the colour they correspond to on the map above) are:

Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) – violet
Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) – orange
Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) – cyan
Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis) – red
Tree pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) – yellow green
Long-tailed pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla) – magenta
Giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) – green
Ground pangolin (Smutsia temmenickii) – blue

Here are 8 more facts about Pangolins:

The name pangolin comes from the Malay word “pengguling”, meaning “something that rolls up”.
If touched or grabbed it will roll up completely into a ball.
Eat ants and termites using an extraordinarily long, sticky tongue.
They can weigh from as little as 1.6kg (3.5 lbs) up to 33kg (73 lbs).
Their scales are made from keratin, the same protein that forms human hair and finger nails.
Pangolins have poor vision, so they locate termite and ant nests with their strong sense of smell.
While their lifespan in the wild is unknown, they can live as long as 20 years in captivity.
They are solitary, nocturnal and highly secretive, thus making it difficult for scientists to study them in the wild.

Finally, poaching for illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss have made these incredible creatures one of the most endangered groups of mammals in the world. However, you can help support them at SavePangolins.org.

If you’d like to learn more about Pangolins, the following books should be helpful:

If you like Pangolins, please help by sharing this map: