Pangolins like sandy habitats, such as savannas and wooded areas. They tend to remain close to water sources. There are some species of this enigmatic animal that are arboreal, which means that they live and hunt in trees.
There are two species of pangolin in this genus:
Giant pangolin: The giant pangolin is the largest in the pangolin family. The range of its habitat stretches from West Africa to Uganda. Ground pangolin: Ground pangolins are found in southern and eastern Africa. They are also known as Cape pangolins or Temminck’s pangolin.
Some articles claimed the habitat of the ground pangolin species is quite widespread. They generally reside in central and southern areas of Africa, including the countries of Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. Millions of other species live in the same habitat as the ground pangolin.
Some think that distribution of the Pangolin. There are eight different species of pangolin, and their natural habitats range from central and southern Africa, to India and Asia . Four species are native to Africa, one species is native to India, and three species are native to various parts of Asia.
How do pangolins find their prey?
Pangolins feed mainly on termites but also eat ants and other insects. They locate prey by smell and use their forefeet to rip open nests . Long-tailed pangolin ( Manis tetradactyla ).
The next thing we wondered was; do pangolins climb trees?
Another Asian species, the India or thick-tailed pangolin is mostly found on the Indian subcontinent where it prefers to live in the forests. Although this species does not climb trees , it prefers to live amongst the low shrubbery of the forest floor.
Another thing we wanted the answer to was; how do pangolins protect themselves from predators?
This is what my research found. pangolins are mid-sized scaly mammals with large keratin scales that give them a suit of armor and help protect them from predators. When they feel threatened , they will curl into a ball and use the sharp points on their scales for protection. Pangolins feed primarily on termites and ants found on the forest floor of tropical rainforests.
How big do pangolins get?
Pangolins are 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 feet) long exclusive of the tail and weigh 5 to 27 kg (10 to 60 pounds). Across all eight species, adult tail length ranges from about 26 to 70 cm (approximately 10 to 28 inches).
What is a Chinese pangolin?
The Chinese pangolin is shy, elusive, and extremely non-aggressive . They are capable of climbing trees, though they rarely do. The species is unique for its ears that stick out, and for the scales that cover its head. Known as the Malaysian, Sunda, or Java pangolin, this species is found throughout Southeast Asia.
The name pangolin, from the Malay meaning “rolling over,” refers to this animal’s habit of curling into a ball when threatened . Pangolins—which are typically classified in the genera Manis, Phataginus, and Smutsia —are found in tropical Asia and Africa.