Wildlifeof Thailand
Short-tailed Pangolin
Manidae
Photo: Mickey Wu · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Manis pentadactyla
Basic stats
Habitat
Primary and secondary tropical forest, bamboo and limestone forest, grassland and agricultural land
Range
Northern South Asia, northern mainland Southeast Asia, southern China, Hainan and Taiwan
Litter size
1 young
Size
Head and body 40–58cm; tail 25–38cm
The short-tailed or Chinese pangolin has a small pointed head, a narrow mouth and overlapping grey-blue scales arranged in about 18 rows. Sparse hair accompanies the scales, an unusual combination among mammals. The head and body measure 40–58 cm and the tail 25–38 cm. Females bear one young at a time, and newborn scales are soft before hardening soon after birth (Wikipedia, general species account).
Across its range it occupies several wooded and open habitats, including primary and secondary tropical forest, bamboo and limestone forest, grassland and agricultural land. Its distribution extends across the northern Indian subcontinent, northern mainland Southeast Asia and southern China, including Hainan and Taiwan; records extend from lowlands into mountain country (Wikipedia, general species account). It is Nationally Critically Endangered (Thailand Red Data 2025).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Short-tailed Pangolin live in?
- Primary and secondary tropical forest, bamboo and limestone forest, grassland and agricultural land
- Where is the Short-tailed Pangolin found?
- Northern South Asia, northern mainland Southeast Asia, southern China, Hainan and Taiwan
- What is the litter size of the Short-tailed Pangolin?
- 1 young
- How big is the Short-tailed Pangolin?
- Head and body 40–58cm; tail 25–38cm