Wildlifeof Nepal
Chinese Pangolin
Pangolins, Treeshrews, Shrews & Gymnures
Photo: Mickey Wu · CC-BY
Manis pentadactyla
Basic stats
Diet
Mainly termites and ants
Habitat
Burrows; recorded up to 3,000m
Range
Southern Nepal, north-east India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, northern Indochina, southern China and Taiwan
Size
Head and body 40–58cm; tail 25–38cm
The Chinese pangolin has typically grey-blue scales in 18 overlapping rows, accompanied by hair, a rare combination in mammals. Head and body measure about 40 to 58cm and the tail 25 to 38cm. A newborn weighs about 93g. The young are born with soft scales that harden after two days, and the mother carries her baby on her back or tail (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is native to southern Nepal and has been recorded up to 3,000m. A secretive, nocturnal animal, it digs long burrows for sleeping and for hunting termites, and feeds mainly on termites and ants, breaking into nests and mounds with its large fore claws and extracting insects with a long sticky tongue. Poaching for the illegal wildlife trade is a threat. Nationally Endangered (Nepal National Red List 2011).
Quick answers
- What does the Chinese Pangolin eat?
- Mainly termites and ants
- What habitat does the Chinese Pangolin live in?
- Burrows; recorded up to 3,000m
- Where is the Chinese Pangolin found?
- Southern Nepal, north-east India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, northern Indochina, southern China and Taiwan
- How big is the Chinese Pangolin?
- Head and body 40–58cm; tail 25–38cm