Head to head
Chinese Pangolin vs Indian Pangolin
Chinese Pangolin
VS Indian Pangolin
The Chinese pangolin and Indian pangolin are two Asian pangolins in the genus Manis, both armoured burrowers that eat ants and termites and are heavily hunted for their scales and meat.
| Chinese Pangolin | Indian Pangolin | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Manis pentadactyla | Manis crassicaudata |
| Range | Southern China, Taiwan, and parts of Nepal, northeastern India, and Southeast Asia | India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan |
| Habitat | Forest and grassland | Forest, scrub, and grassland |
| Diet | Mainly ants and termites, licked up with a long, sticky tongue | Mainly ants and termites, licked up with a long, sticky tongue |
| Armour | Overlapping keratin scales, and rolls into a tight ball to protect its soft belly | Large overlapping keratin scales, curling into a tight ball with its thick tail wrapped over its head |
| Burrows | Digs deep burrows in which it shelters by day | Digs deep burrows, where it shelters by day and raises its young |
| Threats | Heavily hunted and trafficked for its scales and meat | Hunted and trafficked for its scales and meat, with loss of habitat |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered, with a decreasing population | Endangered, with a decreasing population |
Chinese Pangolin vs Indian Pangolin: common questions
Why is the Indian pangolin called thick-tailed?
It has a broad, thick tail, which gave it the alternative name thick-tailed pangolin.
Which pangolin is more at risk?
The Chinese pangolin, which is Critically Endangered, while the Indian pangolin is Endangered.
Where do the Chinese and Indian pangolins live?
The Chinese pangolin lives in southern China, Taiwan, and parts of South and Southeast Asia, while the Indian pangolin lives across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan.