Animal Diversity Web

Geographic Range

Malayan pangolins, Manis javanica , inhabit the paleotropics. Specifically, these pangolins are found in southeastern Asia within the Indomalayan regions. (Corbet and Hill, 1992)

• Biogeographic Regions
• oriental
  • native

Habitat

Malayan pangolins inhabit a variety of landscapes, including primary and secondary forests, open savannah country, and areas vegetated with thick bush. They often observed in cultivated areas such as gardens and plantations. Although they are terrestrial creatures that inhabit burrows, either excavated with their huge claws or borrowed from previous residents, they are known to be agile climbers and spend time within trees resting or searching for food. (Nowak, 1999)

• Habitat Regions
• tropical

• Terrestrial Biomes
• savanna or grassland
• forest

• Other Habitat Features
• agricultural

Physical Description

Malayan pangolins are strikingly unique creatures, whose coat of movable and sharp-tipped scales are reminiscent of descriptions of a dragon's armor or "living pine cones" as they are nicknamed. They are 79-88 cm long, including the tail, and males are typically larger than females. They are covered from just above the nostrils to the tips of their tails by many rows of overlapping scales (17-19 rows on midsection and >20 rows along tail) . The scales on the back and sides are olive-brown to yellowish and hard. These scales are derived from hairs. The underbelly and face are covered in whitish to pale-brown hair, and the skin is gray to bluish.

Males are larger than females. The species has a small conical head with small eyes that are protected by thick eyelids. The external ear parts are greatly reduced. The nose is fleshy, and the mouth lacks teeth. They have extremly long, thin tongues, capable of extending about 25 cm, which covered with a sticky saliva. This helps them collect termites and ants. They have significant adaptations to account for their enormous tongue which passes through the chest cavity and anchors to the pelvis. These include lack of a clavicle, and and odd structure of their xiphisternum (Nowak, 1999). They are pentadactylous; their forefeet are equipt with pads on the soles, large digging claws and are longer and stronger than their hindfeet. Malayan pangolins have prehensile tails and can close their nostril and ear openings. (Corbet and Hill, 1992; Nowak, 1999)

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic
• bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• male larger

• Range length

  79 to 88 cm

  31.10 to 34.65 in

Reproduction

Sparring for potential mates has been reported. Coupled with the sexual dimorphism in size, the evidence supports the conclusion that males compete for females, and that some males probably don't get to mate. This means the species is probably at least somewhat polygynous. (Medway, L, 1969)

• Mating System
• polygynous

There is not much information known about Malayan pangolin reproduction. Violent sparring over potential mates has been documented. These pangolins are thought to breed in the autumn, and to give birth in the winter burrow. Gestation is about 130 days. One or rarely two offspring may be produced. Weaning occurs after three months, and sexual maturity is reached by one year of age.

Newborn pangolins have soft scales, which harden after birth, and can weigh from 100 to 500 g. Neonate weight probably varies with the adult body size of the species. Some populations of pangolins may be capable of year-round breeding. (Medway, L, 1969; Nowak, 1999)

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous
• seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual
• fertilization
  • internal
• viviparous

• Breeding interval

  These animals probably breed annually.

• Breeding season

  These pangolins are thought to breed in the autumn, and give birth in winter burrow.

• Range number of offspring

  1 to 2 (rarely)

• Average number of offspring

  1

• Average gestation period

  130 days

• Average weaning age

  3 months

• Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)

  1 years

• Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

  1 years

Parental care seems to be the responsibility only of females. Females nurse their young for approximately three months. Young are fairly agile at an early age and are considered precocial.

Observations of females adopting other's young have been documented. Females have 1 pair of mammae. Mother pangolins are extremly protective. When threatened, a mother will curl up into a tight ball with her young safely nestled within. At other times, the young rides upon the base of the mother's tail. (Medway, L, 1969)

• Parental Investment
• precocial
• pre-hatching/birth
  • provisioning
    • female
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-weaning/fledging
  • provisioning
    • female
  • protecting
    • female

Lifespan/Longevity

Due to their elusive nocturnal habits and low population numbers, there have not been any long-term published studies done of Malayan pangolin lifespan. They are extremly hard to keep alive in captivity, which also does not allow people to collect any data about their lifespan.

However, a con-generic species, M. crassicaudata produced one specimen which lived in captivity for almost 20 years. (Nowak, 1999; Tweedie, 1978)

Behavior

Malayan pangolins are sometimes found in pairs, but are mainly solitary, nocturnal, and timid. They move slowly on all four feet unless threatened. Under threat, a pangolin can move swiftly on hindfeet alone, with the aid of its prehensile tail. The tail is also used when climbing trees. They have been observed swimming. They are thought to travel an average of 0.7-1.8 km/day. They are strong diggers and will make burrows lined with vegetation for insulation near termite mounds and ant nests. (Medway, L, 1969)

• Key Behaviors
• arboreal
• fossorial
• nocturnal
• motile
• sedentary
• solitary

Home Range

The home range size for these animals is not known.

Communication and Perception

Not much is known about pangolin communication, but it is suspected that their main mode is via scent markings. As with all mammals, there is some visual communication, and tactile communication occurs, especially between mothers and offspring, potential mates, and potential rivals for mates. Pangolins are also known to make some vocalizations. (Medway, L, 1969; Nowak, 1999)

• Communication Channels
• visual
• tactile
• acoustic
• chemical

• Other Communication Modes
• scent marks

• Perception Channels
• visual
• tactile
• acoustic
• chemical

Food Habits

Malayan pangolins are also known as scaly anteaters; they are extreme specialist (myrmecophages) eating only ants and termites. (Nowak, 1999)

• Primary Diet
• carnivore
  • insectivore

• Animal Foods
• insects

Predation

Malayan pangolins have a functional suit of armor to protect them from predators, sharp underbrush, and rocks. When threatened, a pangolin will swish its tail about with the pointed scales erect. If that doesn't work to deter the threat, the animal will curl up into a tight ball so its soft belly is protected within. If the pangolin is unravelled, its last resort is to squirt a foul-smelling liquid onto the potential predatory while devoiding its bowels at the same time. (Nowak, 1999)

• Known Predators

  • humans (Homo sapiens)
  • leopards (Panthera pardus)
  • pythons (Boidae)

Ecosystem Roles

Scaly anteaters may be important in controlling insect populations. It is estimated that an adult pangolin may consume about 70 million insects annually.

By constructing burrows and digging a bit to get at ants and termites, these animals also aid in soil aeration. (Heath, 1992)

• Ecosystem Impact
• soil aeration

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Malayan pangolins are hunted for their skins, scales, and meat. Their parts are used for medicinal purposes. (Nowak, 1999)

• Positive Impacts
• food
• body parts are source of valuable material
• source of medicine or drug

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There have been no reports of negative effects of these animals on humans. Lacking teeth, they can't even bite.

Conservation Status

Populations of most pangolin species are somehow threatened. M. javanica is listed by IUCN as LR/nt, meaning that it is nearly threatened, and comes close to meeting the criteria necessary to be listed as vulnerable.

There is a high demand for pangolin scales for traditional medicines in many parts of the world. Meat is eaten by indigenous peoples. Hides are also used to make shoes. One of the main importers of pangolin skins from 1980-1985 was the United States of America. (Nowak, 1999)

• IUCN Red List

  Endangered
  More information

• IUCN Red List

  Endangered
  More information

• US Federal List

  No special status

• CITES

  Appendix II

Contributors

Nancy Shefferly (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Kelley Breen (author), Humboldt State University, Brian Arbogast (editor), Humboldt State University.

References

Corbet, G., J. Hill. 1992. Mammals of the Indomalayan region. Oxford: Natural History Museum, London and Oxford University Press.

Heath, M. 1992. Manis pentadactyla. Mammalian Species, 414: 1-6.

Medway, L, 1969. The Wild Mammals of Malaya. London: Oxford University Press.

Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Sixth Edition. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Tweedie, M. 1978. Mammals of Malaysia. Kuala Lampur: Longman, Malaysia.