A mammal with scales covering its upperparts and a long tongue for eating ants and termites. On Borneo it is recorded in forests and cultivated areas, including gardens.
Brown scales cover its back and tail, and its forefeet have long claws. Its snout and tail are long and tapering, and it has no teeth.
Sunda Pangolins use a gripping tail to climb, claws to open insect nests and a sticky tongue to feed. When threatened they curl into a scaly ball.
Usually a single young is born and rides on the mother’s back or tail. In Singapore the species uses forest reserves and may wander into nearby residential areas.
Poaching for meat and scales is a range-wide threat. In Singapore, roadkill and forest loss are particularly important; the 2024 national Red Data Book lists the species as Critically Endangered.
Singapore Red Data Book · Critically Endangered (CR) · Singapore
Exploitation for meat and scales is a range-wide threat. Roadkill and forest loss are particularly important pressures in Singapore.