Quick Facts
- Type
- Mammal
- Size
- 40–65 cm body; tail similar length
- Weight
- 5–10 kg
- Habitat
- Forests and plantations of Southeast Asia
- Diet
- Ants and termites
- Active Time
- Nocturnal
- Lifespan
- Up to about 20 years
Field Notes
- Pangolins are the only mammals fully covered in true scales.
- When frightened they roll into a ball so tight even lions cannot pry them open.
- They are the most trafficked wild mammals on Earth, hunted for scales and meat.
About the Sunda Pangolin
The Sunda pangolin is a scaly, ant-eating mammal native to Southeast Asia, covered in overlapping keratin scales that form natural armor. When threatened, it rolls into a tight ball that few predators can open. It has no teeth; instead it uses powerful claws to tear open ant and termite nests and a long, sticky tongue to lap up insects. Largely nocturnal and solitary, it is an excellent climber thanks to its prehensile tail. Tragically, pangolins are among the most trafficked mammals in the world and are critically endangered.
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