Chinese Pangolin: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Weird and Wonderful · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. A newborn Chinese pangolin weighs only about 93 g, yet it can walk on its first day. Its soft scales harden after two days.
2. The mother pangolin carries her baby on her back or tail. If danger comes, she folds it onto her belly with her tail.
3. Chinese pangolins have 18 rows of overlapping scales plus hair, a rare mix in mammals. When threatened, they curl into a ball.
4. One young Chinese pangolin's stomach held exactly 25,803 ants and 812 termites. Ants were 97 % of the prey items.
5. Pangolins have no teeth, so they swallow small stones. The stones collect in the stomach and help grind up ants.

The quiz

1. How soon can a newborn Chinese pangolin walk?

• After one week
• On its first day (correct)
• After a month
• After two days

A newborn can walk on its first day.

2. What does the mother do with her tail if danger approaches?

• Slaps the ground
• Folds the baby onto her belly (correct)
• Hides the baby in a burrow
• Wraps it in leaves

She folds the baby onto her belly using her tail.

3. How many rows of scales does a Chinese pangolin have?

• 8
• 12
• 18 (correct)
• 28

It has 18 rows of overlapping scales.

4. How many ants were in the juvenile pangolin's stomach?

• 2,580
• 25,803 (correct)
• 258,030
• 5,803

The stomach contained exactly 25,803 ants and 812 termites.

5. What do pangolins swallow to help grind their food?

• Sand and seeds
• Small stones (correct)
• Bark
• Snail shells

They ingest small stones that help grind up ants in the stomach.

More about the Chinese Pangolin

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries