SPECIES
Chinese pangolin
Manis pentadactyla
A quiet, armour-plated mammal curls into a ball, yet that defence offers little protection from traffickers.
Overlapping keratin scales cover the body; specialised claws open insect nests.
Ants and termites form its main prey in subtropical forest ecosystems.
Himalayan foothills and parts of East and Southeast Asia.
Where does a Chinese pangolin live?
Himalayan foothills and parts of East and Southeast Asia.
Worth knowing
- Adaptation Overlapping keratin scales cover the body; specialised claws open insect nests.
- Ecological role Ants and termites form its main prey in subtropical forest ecosystems.
- Home Himalayan foothills and parts of East and Southeast Asia.
How it survives
Overlapping keratin scales cover the body; specialised claws open insect nests.
A quiet, armour-plated mammal curls into a ball, yet that defence offers little protection from traffickers.
Why relationships matter
Ants and termites form its main prey in subtropical forest ecosystems.
Where it lives
Himalayan foothills and parts of East and Southeast Asia.
Pressures and responses
Severe illegal hunting and trade, alongside habitat loss.
Stop wildlife trafficking and protect suitable forests; avoid revealing sensitive den locations.
Sources
- University of Michigan Museum of Zoology — Animal Diversity Web, Manis pentadactyla
- GBIF — Manis pentadactyla accepted taxon
Records of where it has been seen come live from GBIF; observed interactions from GloBI. Draft — not yet reviewed by a person.