Pangolin - Scaly Anteater
Is the only species of the order Pholidota in South Africa.
| Common name | Scientific name | Average weight of adult male | Average length or shoulder height | Diet | How do they live | Feeding time | Gestation period | Number of young at birth |
| Pangolin | Manis temminckii | 7 kg | 30 cm | ants and termites | solitary | night | unknown | single young |
A solitary animal, seldom seen and only active at night. During daytime they hide away in Aardvark tunnels or under heaps of fallen leaves and branches.
Their bodies are covered by heavy scales and when attacked or alarmed they would curl up into a tight ball with these sharp scales, like body armour on the outside.
They have no teeth and they only eat ants and termites which is grounded down in their stomachs.
Another peculiarity is that they walk only on their hind legs and by doing so, their front paws and tail do not touch the ground when walking.