Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla

Pangolins are unusual for mammals in having hair covered by scales. The Chinese Pangolin is 65cm to 1 metre long (head to end of prehensile tail) and is mainly solitary and nocturnal.

The Chinese Pangolin is native to southern China, northern Southeast Asia and northern South Asia. Diet is termites and ants.

It is the world's most trafficked animal and is critically endangered, the population having declined a further 80% in just the first 20 years of this millenium.

When threatened it can whip its sharp-edged tail and release a foul odour but usually curls up into a ball protected by its hard scales. Unfortunately, this does not protect it from human poachers. It is in high demand for Chinese traditional medicine, particularly for its scales, in the mistaken belief of medicinal properties (although removed from the official list of traditional medicines).