# Pangolin (*Manis*) Pangolins are unique mammals covered in tough scales made of keratin, like your fingernails. They use their long tongues to slurp up ants and termites, their favorite snacks! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Scaly Anteater ![Pangolin](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426403/objects/6289.jpg) ## Appearance The Pangolin is a unique mammal covered in large, overlapping keratin scales, giving it an armored appearance. It has a small head, long snout, and a very long, prehensile tail. Its scales are typically brownish-grey, which helps it camouflage in its environment. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Pholidota - **Family:** Manidae - **Genus:** Manis ## Interesting facts - A single pangolin can eat over 70 million insects in just one year! - Pangolin babies ride on their mom's tails, clinging on as she walks! - Pangolins can close their ears and nostrils to keep ants out! - Some pangolin species can walk upright on their two hind legs! ## Special abilities - **Sticky Snare:** Pangolin has an incredibly long, sticky tongue that helps them snatch up thousands of ants and termites quickly. - **Digging Dynamo:** Pangolin can dig burrows with powerful claws because of their strong forelimbs that helps them find food and shelter. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-180 cm - **Weight:** 2-30 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-18 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-3 - **Gestation:** 70-150 days ## Diet & Feeding Pangolins are insectivores, mostly eating ants and termites with their long, sticky tongues. - **Primary Foods:** ants, termites, larvae, invertebrates - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — African pangolins are prey for big cats. - **Eaten by:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Pangolins are illegally hunted for meat and scales. - **Eats:** Weaver Ant (*Oecophylla smaragdina*) — Asian pangolins feast on these ants. - **Eats:** African Fungus Termite (*Macrotermes bellicosus*) — African pangolins dig up and eat these termites. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Pangolins are shy and gentle creatures. If you ever see one, admire them from a distance and never try to touch or harm them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify 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 Pangolin? 60-180 cm ### How much does Pangolin weigh? 2-30 kg ### How long does Pangolin live? 5-18 years ### How fast can Pangolin move? 8 km/h ### What does Pangolin eat? Pangolins are insectivores, mostly eating ants and termites with their long, sticky tongues. ### Where is Pangolin usually found? Forests ### How does Pangolin hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Tiergarten Schönbrunn](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-sch-nbrunn) — Vienna, AT · 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: [Pangolin: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pangolin)