African pangolins, known scientifically as Manis temminckii, are nocturnal creatures that sleep in burrows during the day and venture out to forage as night falls. These pangolins can occupy abandoned burrows of rabbits, aardvarks, or other animals as their homes, or they can dig their own burrows. The burrows they create can have a diameter of 15-20 cm and can extend several meters deep.
Manis temminckii typically inhabits dry areas, and their activities primarily take place on the ground. However, when necessary, they are capable of climbing and swimming. They move slowly on the ground, lifting their entire body with their hind legs and tail.
Their heads are cone-shaped with very tiny ears; although they lack external ear flaps, their hearing is quite good. The body length of a pangolin is about 50 cm, with a tail length of approximately 35 cm, and they can weigh around 9 kg. Their snouts are elongated, and three out of five toes on their front feet possess large, long, and powerful claws, while the claws on their hind feet are smaller. Their entire body is covered in scales, resembling the American armadillo (despite the fact that these two animals are entirely different). They have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell, allowing them to easily locate prey in total darkness. They possess a highly foul-smelling gland that they use to deter predators.
The Manis temminckii has a particular fondness for insects, especially ants and termites. They can dig into any termite mound but typically rely on their sense of smell to locate their preferred type of termite. They use their claws to excavate dirt mounds and employ their long, 40 cm tongues to capture ants and termites. The large salivary glands in their mouths keep their tongues moist, making it easier for ants and termites to become stuck and unable to escape. When not feeding, pangolins tuck their tongues into a pouch deep in their throats. Besides this foraging method, the Manis temminckii has a more unique approach: they allow ants and termites to crawl all over their bodies, open their scales, and then snap these openings shut, crushing the insects. Afterward, they leisurely eat the crushed insects.
Although they lack teeth, this species of pangolin can still digest food effectively. The digestion process is aided by small stones and pebbles that the pangolin swallows.
The pangolin is the only mammal with large scales, covering most of its body except for the snout, chin, throat, sides of the face, and abdomen. When threatened, a pangolin will curl up into a ball. Due to their hard scales, it takes considerable effort for them to roll into this shape. It is very challenging to pry a pangolin out of its curled position. These scales are so tough that they can withstand bullets from some small firearms.
Pangolins can also whip their tails to injure attackers and prevent larger predators from pulling them out of their curled shape. The scales have sharp edges that can seriously harm foes.
Most of the life of the Manis temminckii is spent in solitude. They only pair up briefly during mating. Males often fight fiercely for the chance to mate. After about 140 days of gestation, the mother pangolin gives birth to a single offspring. At birth, the young pangolin measures approximately 15 cm and weighs about 300 g. The soft green scales begin to harden two days after birth. The young starts feeding on termites at one month old and is nurtured by its mother for about 3-4 months; if it senses danger, it will crawl under its mother’s belly, and she will curl up to protect it.
Leopards and other large predators (such as hyenas) often prey on pangolins, even though pangolins are safe from smaller carnivores. However, humans are the greatest threat to the pangolin population. Pangolins are believed to have magical properties and are used in talismans. When mixed with the bark of certain trees, pangolin scales are used to break spells and drive away evil spirits. They are also worn as jewelry, regarded as a form of amulet. Indigenous tribes in Africa believe that if a woman buries pangolin scales near the entrance of a man’s home, she can control him under a spell.
Occasionally, pangolin scales are burned to ward off lions and other predators; in some areas, pangolins are even sacrificed during rain-making rituals. People also hunt pangolins for their meat, with many tribes believing that their scales can be made into extremely potent medicines. Each scale can be sold for approximately $17, and their skin is prized for making durable and beautiful shoes, leading to further hunting for their hides.
The African pangolin is one of the hardest animals to care for in captivity. In the wild, they can live up to around 20 years, but they are currently on the brink of extinction.
