Pangolins are found in a variety of habitats including tropical and flooded forests, thick brush, cleared and cultivated areas, and savannah grassland; in general they occur where large numbers of ants and termites are found. There are four species found in Asia and four found in Africa. The four Asian pangolins are distinguished from the African species by the presence of bristles which emerge from between the scales.
Taxonomy & Status
Asian pangolins:
Chinese or Formosan pangolin (Manis pentadactyla): Critically Endangered
Sunda or Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica): Critically Endangered
Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata): Endangered
Palawan or Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis): Critically Endangered
African pangolins:
Ground or Cape pangolin (Smutsia temminckii): Vulnerable
White-bellied or tree pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis): Endangered
Giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea): Endangered
Black-bellied or long-tailed pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla): Vulnerable