White-Bellied Pangolin

Phataginus tricuspis

Body Length:23"–41"
Tail Length:Approximately half of the body length
Weight:Average 2 to 4.4 lbs, but can be as heavy as 6 lbs
Geographic Distribution:Equatorial Africa from Guinea through Sierra Leone and much of West Africa to Central Africa as far east as extreme southwestern Kenya and Northwestern Tanzania. To the south, their range extends to norther Angola and northwestern Zambia. They have also been found on the Atlantic island of Bioko.
Habitat:Predominantly in moist tropical lowland forests and secondary growth, but also in dense woodlands, especially along water courses
Wild Diet:Thought to be exclusively ants, ant eggs, termites, and termite eggs
Zoo Diet:An insect-based complete diet made at the zoo: the product is a combination of four different species of insect/larvae, which are ground to a powder and mixed with fiber and fat products
Status in the Wild: Endangered
Location:Habitat Africa! The Forest

Male white-bellied pangolins are typically slightly larger than females.

White-bellied pangolins have small pointed heads with thick eyelids that protect their eyes from ant and termite bites.

They have long tongues that are anchored to a point on the pelvis and which they can extend to around 9.8 in. They do not have teeth but they ingest small stones and sand that grind food in their gizzard-like stomachs.

Their bodies are covered by tough three-cusped keratin scales except for most of their faces, their undersides and the inside surfaces of their legs. Their scales range in color from dark brown to russet to brownish yellow and typically comprise around 15% of their body weight.

They have large curved claws which they use when climbing trees and when attacking anthills and termite mounds.

They have long broad prehensile tails which are bare at the tips (which assists in gripping).