Manis gigantea
giant pangolin

Giant pangolins live in Africa, along the equator from West Africa to Uganda.

This species lives in forests and savannahs where termites are abundant and water is available. It does not occur at high altitudes.

The typical mass range of this species is not known, but one individual was found to weigh 33 kg. Male body length is about 140 cm; female about 125 cm. Manis gigantea is the largest of its genus, giving it the name "giant pangolin." It is covered with large, thick scales and has no hair (except eyelashes). The snout is long, and the scales are usually brown or reddish brown. It has long claws on the front feet and a long, wide tail.

Pangolins are generally observed singly, but in one case a pair was discovered in a burrow with a juvenile. Giant pangolins can dig large burrows, up to 40 m long, 5 m below the ground. Pangolins are nocturnal, leaving their burrows after midnight to feed. The sense of smell is probably very important for giant pangolins, and they have large anal glands. The odor of their secretions probably has a roll in intraspecific communication. When walking, most of the animal's weight is on its columnar rear legs. By using its tail for balance, it can even walk bipedally. When walking on all four legs, pangolins curl in their front paws to protect the sharp front claws. The animal actually walks on the outside of its wrists rather than its palms.

When a pangolin is startled it hides its head between its front legs, thereby presenting to the potential predator only its strongly armored shoulders. If touched or grabbed it will roll up completely into a ball. The scales on the tail are very sharp, and may be used as a weapon.

Giant pangolins eat ants and termites. The dig into both subterranean and mound-type termite nests with their powerful claws, and they can eat a large quantity of these insects. Pangolins must also have access to drinking water.

There are no known adverse effects of Manis gigantea on humans.

Pangolins are hunted for their meat and for their scales, which are considered very desirable due to their use in native medicines and rituals.

The abundance of giant pangolins is not well known, since they have not been studied in detail and because they are nocturnal, which makes them difficult to observe casually. It is clear that deforestation for timber, urban development and agricultural development have decreased the amount of habitat available. Hunting also decreases population levels. Manis gigantea is listed on CITES appendix II.