Head to head
Giant Pangolin vs Tree Pangolin
Giant Pangolin
VS Tree Pangolin
The giant pangolin and the tree pangolin are both African pangolin species facing severe trafficking pressure, but they occupy opposite ends of the pangolin lifestyle spectrum, one a large ground-dwelling burrower, the other a small, almost entirely arboreal climber.
| Giant Pangolin | Tree Pangolin | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Smutsia gigantea | Phataginus tricuspis |
| Size | The largest pangolin species | Much smaller |
| Lifestyle | Ground-dwelling, digs burrows | Nearly exclusively arboreal |
| Tail | Not specifically prehensile | Strongly prehensile |
| Diet | Insectivore, ants and termites | Insectivore, ants and termites |
| Defence | Rolls into a protective ball | Rolls into a protective ball |
| Range | Central and West Africa | Central and West Africa |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Endangered |
Giant Pangolin vs Tree Pangolin: common questions
Which pangolin is bigger, the giant or the tree pangolin?
The giant pangolin, which is the largest pangolin species, considerably bigger than the much smaller tree pangolin.
Which pangolin spends its life in the trees?
The tree pangolin, which relies on a strongly prehensile tail to live almost entirely in the forest canopy, unlike the ground-dwelling giant pangolin, which digs burrows instead.
Do both the giant pangolin and tree pangolin face the same threats?
Yes, both are heavily targeted by illegal wildlife trafficking driven by demand for their scales and meat, combined with habitat loss across Central and West Africa.