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Project Noah Nature School
Manis javanica
The skin of its feet is granular, although pads are foumd on its front feet. Its tail has 30 scales. It has thick and powerful claws to dig into the soils in search of ant nests or to tear into termite mounds. The nose is fleshy and gives the pangolin a strong sense of smell. It has no teeth. Instead, its long, sticky tongue helps it collect ants and termites. Its body is covered by rows of scales and fibrous hair. The head-body length of this pangolin is up to 65 cm, tail length is up to 56 cm, and its weight is up to 10 kg. Males are larger than females. Pangolins give birth annually to one or two offspring. They breed in the autumn, and females give birth in the winter burrow. Parental care will be given for about three months. Pangolins are sometimes found in pairs, but normally they are solitary, noctural, and behave timidly. They protect their soft underparts by rolling into balls when they feel threatened. They are strong diggers and will make burrows lined with vegetation for insulation near termite mounds and ant nests. The Sunda pangolin's main predators are the tiger and the clouded leopard. Pangolins are hunted for their skins, scales, and meat for the superstitious belief that they possess special healing powers. Scales are made into rings as charms against rheumatic fever, and meat is eaten by indigenous peoples. Skins are also used to make shoes. One of the main importers of pangolin skins from 1980–1985 was the United States of America.
These pangolins are found in Southeast Asia’s forested habitats (primarily, secondary, scrub forest) and plantations (rubber, palm oil). Mostly, they spend time within trees, resting or searching food.
Spotted on Dec 5, 2008
Submitted on Nov 20, 2013
25 Comments (1–25)
Happy World Pangolin Day! The curious looking pangolin is sadly hunted for bushmeat and for its scales which are believed by some cultures to have medicinal properties. Its scales are actually made of keratin, the same substance as human fingernails. Many species of pangolin are also threatened by habitat loss, and several, like this Sunda pangolin are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/pho...
Excellent photograph displaying this curious creature! Thank you for sharing Karin and Happy World Pangolin Day 2014!
I love me a Pangolin :))
Absolutely precious! What a great photo of its behavioral postures!
Congratulations .......... so cute spotting.......
Wonderful picture!
Congratulations on this wonderful SotD !
I love pangolins!
Congrats Karin ! This is an awesome well deserved SOTD ! Such a cutie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Thank you! I have been really lucky to find this beautiful creature :-).
Congrats KarinSaner!!!Nice Shot!!
Felicidades!
Congratulations KarinSaner!Great finding!
Awesome capture Karin,congrats on the SOTD and thanks for sharing
Congratulations Karin, a marvelous picture!
Congrats. Such a lovely creature :D
Fabulous spotting. Congratulations.
Congrats Karin, such a cool animal!
Congrats on your SOTD
What a beautiful photo ... well done! Congrats on the SOTD!
Awesome capture Karin! Congratulation, you have earned your first Spotting of the Day!
Pangolins are unique among mammals as they are the only order with skin that is covered with large keratin scales. Sadly pangolins are hunted for bushmeat, their skins, and for their scales which are believed by some cultures to have medicinal properties.
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Wonderful !
Good to see this!
Pray for them.. :(
It's so sad that these endearing creatures are hunted! They are also caught up in the illegal animal smuggling trade. Here's one at the San Diego Zoo who was rescued from a smuggler: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/720...