Order Pholidota: Species, Characteristics and their Economic Importance

Pangolins (Scaly Ant-eaters) are mammals with overlapping reptilian-like scales (made from hairs cemented together) on the back sides, tail and top of head. The under side is soft and bears a few hairs. They occur throughout West Africa. When disturbed, pangolins curl up into a tight ball (like the hedgehog) completely protected by the scales, and strong muscles of the abdomen and sides of the body prevent them from being uncurled by a potential predator.

Pangolins have long slender snouts. Inside the mouth there are no teeth, but the tongue is very long, narrow and sticky, and can be protruded to a length almost equal to that of the body. The tongue is used to obtain the food, which consists of ants and mostly termites. The legs are short and some of the toes are clawed. The forelimbs in particular are very powerful and are used to break open the nests of ants and termites, and to rip bark from trees. The ground living pangolins tend to be large with massive scales and thick non-prehensile tails. The tree living pangolins tend to be smaller with more delicate scales and long, thin prehensile tails (i.e. the tree living pangolins can hang from a branch by its tail). Pangolins are usually solitary and nocturnal.

Tree Pangolin (Mani stricu spis)

Identification: Top of head, back, sides of body and tail with small pale overlapping scales; 19-23 rows of body scales; width of scales in middle of back 12-13; lateral scales smaller. Each scale with three cusps or points on posterior edge, central cusp large and pointed, lateral cusps small and poorly defined especially in old individuals.

Head with pointed, naked muzzle; eyes small; ears very small. Limbs short and thickset, with long strong curved claws. Ventral surface with sparse whitish-grey or pale brown hairs. Tail long and prehensile, about 150% of HB, slightly flattened horizontally with scales on upper and lower surfaces.

Tree pangolins live in primary and secondary forests. They spend most of their time in trees. Occasionally they descend to the ground to feed or to reach another tree, but are not well adapted for terrestrial locomotion. Tree pangolins are solitary but sometimes live in pairs, and young remain with their mothers for about four months.

A single offspring is born after a gestation period of six months. At birth, the scales are soft and the eyes are open like in grass cutters.

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