Ground pangolin

Temminck’s Pangolin (Manis temmincki) is one of four species of pangolin which can be found in Africa and the only one in southern and eastern Africa. Although they are present over quite a large area, they are rare throughout it and notoriously difficult to spot. Their scarcity is partly because they are hunted by humans for their scales which are used in love charms and also because they are often burnt in bush fires. With the exception of the underside, they are covered in extremely hard scales and usually when threatened they will roll up into a ball to protect the vulnerable belly. The scales on the tail can also be used as blades to slash at attackers. Temminck’s pangolin can grow to a length of about 1 metre, with the tail typically between 30 and 50 cm. They have disproportionately small heads, powerful hindlegs and small forelegs. Like other pangolin species, they are largely nocturnal although they are also entirely terrestrial and usually found in savanna or open woodland, generally feeding on termites or ants. They are well adapted to this, with a very long (up to 50cm) sticky tongue which is stored inside a pocket in the mouth until needed. Although they are capable of digging their own burrows, they prefer to occupy disused holes dug by warthog or aardvark or lie in dense vegetation, making them even more difficult to observe.