Sunda Pangolin

Lore & Background

In the past, this species has included the closely related Palawan pangolin (M. culionensis), as both are in the subgenus Paramanis. It is closely related to the Chinese pangolin, although the Malayan species is larger, lighter in colour, and has shorter fore claws. During the Pilo-Pleistocene, something that has shaped its phylogeographic patterns is the experience of the pangolin geographically and its climate history. It is important to the traditions of Orang Asli in the Malay Peninsula and indigenous peoples of Sabah like the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Rungus. The Kadazans use its scales to make special armour to protect their warriors.

Reader's Guide

The Sunda pangolin has poor eyesight, but a highly developed sense of smell. Lacking teeth, its long, sticky tongue serves to collect ants and termites. It has thick and powerful claws to dig into soils in search of ant nests or to tear into termite mounds. The skin of its feet is granular, although pads are found on its front feet.

It is covered by rows of scales (made of keratin) and fibrous hair. Its scales are brown in color; some have white scales along their tails. Head-body length is 40–65 cm, tail length is 35–56 cm, weight up to 10 kg. Males are larger than females.

Mature females have needle-like nipples. Pangolins give birth annually to one or two offspring. They breed in autumn, and females give birth in winter burrows. Parental care is given for about three months.

They are solitary, nocturnal, and timid. They protect themselves by rolling into balls. They are strong diggers and make burrows lined with vegetation. Sunda pangolins have low immunity, making them sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Their main predators are humans, tigers, and the clouded leopard.

Did You Know?

• The Sunda pangolin's scales are made of keratin, the same material as human hair and nails.
• The Sunda pangolin is currently considered critically endangered due to poaching and habitat loss.