Chinese Pangolin

Chinese Pangolin

Scaly Anteater, Ling-Li

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Manis pentadactyla
Population size
Unknown
Life Span
20 years
Top speed
5
3
km/hmph
km/h mph 
Weight
2-7
4.4-15.4
kglbs
kg lbs 
Length
54-80
21.3-31.5
cminch
cm inch 

The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla ) is a pangolin native to the northern Indian subcontinent, northern parts of Southeast Asia and southern China. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2014, as the wild population is estimated to have declined by more than 80% in three pangolin generations, equal to 21 years. It is threatened by poaching for the illegal wildlife trade.

Appearance

The Chinese pangolin has the appearance of a scaly anteater. It's scales are typically grayish blue. There are 18 rows of overlapping scales accompanied by hair, a rare combination in mammals. It has a small, narrow mouth and a little, pointed head. Its claws grow in as it grows older. Its head and body measure about 40–58 cm (16–23 in) and its tail measures about 25–38 cm (9.8–15.0 in). A mature Chinese pangolin weighs from 2 to 7 kilograms (4.4 to 15.4 lb). The female gives birth to a single offspring at a time. A newborn pangolin weighs about 93 g (3.3 oz), its length is about 45 cm (18 in).

Video

Distribution

Geography

Chinese pangolins live in the east and south of East Asia (Nepal, Bhutan, India, Thailand, Myanmar, China and some others). They are found across a wide range of habitats including coniferous, tropical, evergreen and bamboo forests, agricultural fields and grasslands.

Chinese Pangolin habitat map

Climate zones

Chinese Pangolin habitat map
Chinese Pangolin
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Habits and Lifestyle

The Chinese pangolin is a nocturnal and solitary animal, and despite being highly terrestrial, it can climb trees and swim capably. Occasionally, when walking, it will rise onto its hind legs, with its body more upright, holding its forelegs in the air, and this is also the position used when it attacks a termite nest. The pangolin uses its long claws to excavate a burrow, where it sleeps in the daytime, emerging early during the evening to forage. Having poor vision, the Chinese pangolin relies on its sense of smell to find prey. These animals are not aggressive, and, when threatened, it can roll up into a ball so that only its scaly parts are exposed, thus protecting it from predators.

Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Being insectivorous, Chinese pangolins eat only several species of ants and termites.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
late summer-early autumn
BABY CARRYING
1 pangopup
BABY NAME
pangopup

Little is known about the mating system of Chinese pangolins, as they are very secretive and hard to observe. Mating occurs from late summer to early autumn, when males fight over access to females. This means that the species may exhibit a polygynous mating system. Chinese pangolins spend winter in deep burrows beside a termite nest for a food source. Females bear a single offspring at this time, which is reared during winter in the burrow, coming out with its mother in spring. When outside the burrow, a young pangolin is carried on its mother’s tail. This species is thought to become sexually mature at around one year old.

Population

Population threats

Hunting is the primary threat facing the Chinese pangolin, which has been hunted intensively for its meat, considered a delicacy, and its skin, blood and scales, used for traditional Chinese medicine. Disturbance of this species’ habitat does not seem to have had a large impact, as long as its food source of ants and termites is not lost.

Population number

The species is considered very rare. The IUCN Red List and other sources do not provide the Chinese pangolin total population size. Currently this species is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers continue to decrease.

Ecological niche

Being insectivorous, these animals affect insect populations in their range.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • When eating, the pangolin is able to close its ears and nostrils to protect against biting, swarming insects, and it can also close its thick lids protect its eyes.
  • Chinese pangolins are very shy and slow-moving animals.
  • The Chinese pangolin inhabits higher, colder elevations than most other pangolins and seems to be the only species of pangolin that “hibernates” (though it is not a true hibernation, more of an “overwintering”). Their babies are born during the period of hibernation.
  • These animals walk on their knuckles, their claws folded under, and so leave very distinctive footprints.
  • A Chinese pangolin’s scales are about 20% of their body weight.
  • Pangolins have no teeth, and so their stomach is designed to grind up the food they eat with the help of the small stones and sand that they also consume.
  • In Mandarin, the peculiar-looking Chinese pangolin’s name ‘Ling-Li’ has the meaning ‘hill carp’ due to its brownish-yellow scales looking like those of Chinese carp, while in Cantonese, ‘animal that digs through mountain’ is the meaning of the name.
  • The mammal most hunted by humans is not the tiger, rhino or elephant but the pangolin.

References

1. Chinese Pangolin Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_pangolin
2. Chinese Pangolin on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12764/0

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