# Chinese Pangolin (*manis pentadactyla*) The Chinese Pangolin is a special animal covered in hard scales that help protect it. It loves to eat ants and termites, using its long tongue to catch them! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Chinese Pangolins live in forests and grasslands of China and Southeast Asia. - **Also known as:** Chinese Scaly Anteater ![Chinese Pangolin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Manis_pentadactyla_%2829054818144%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manis_pentadactyla_%2829054818144%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Chinese Pangolin is covered in distinctive overlapping keratin scales, giving it a prehistoric, armored appearance. It has a small head with tiny eyes, no external ears, and a long, pointed snout. Its scales are typically grayish-brown, making it blend into its forest surroundings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Pholidota - **Family:** Manidae - **Genus:** Manis ## Interesting facts - A pangolin's amazing tongue can be longer than its entire body, head to tail! - Baby pangolins ride on their mother's back or tail until they are old enough to walk! - Pangolins swallow small stones to help grind up insects because they don't have teeth! - They can close their nostrils and ears to keep ants and termites out while feasting! ## Special abilities - **Armored Roll:** Chinese Pangolin can curl into a tight, scaly ball to protect itself from predators, making it almost impossible to injure. - **Sticky Tongue Trap:** Chinese Pangolin has an incredibly long (up to 40 cm!) sticky tongue that helps them snatch up thousands of ants and termites. - **Earth Breaker Claws:** Chinese Pangolin can dig powerful burrows and break open tough termite mounds because of their strong, sharp front claws. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 55-85 cm - **Weight:** 2-7 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 60-70 days ## Diet & Feeding These scaly mammals are insectivores, mostly eating ants and termites. - **Primary Foods:** ants, termites, larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — Primary food source in many forest habitats. - **Eats:** Formosan Subterranean Termite (*Odontotermes formosanus*) — Feasts on these termites, digging into their mounds. - **Eaten by:** [Tiger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger) (*Panthera tigris*) — A potential predator, though pangolins roll into defense. - **Eaten by:** [Dhole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dhole) (*Cuon alpinus*) — Packs of dholes may try to overcome their armored defense. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Chinese Pangolin? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Chinese Pangolin? 55-85 cm ### How much does Chinese Pangolin weigh? 2-7 kg ### How long does Chinese Pangolin live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Chinese Pangolin move? 8 km/h ### What does Chinese Pangolin eat? These scaly mammals are insectivores, mostly eating ants and termites. ### Where is Chinese Pangolin usually found? Chinese Pangolins live in forests and grasslands of China and Southeast Asia. ### How does Chinese Pangolin hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [McLean Central Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mclean-central-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Zoo Frankfurt](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-frankfurt) — Hessen, DE · Zoo ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Chinese Pangolin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chinese-pangolin)