How many pangolins are born per litter? An introduction to their growth cycle and feeding methods

Although the pangolin is ugly, it is highly valued and is a precious medicinal material. It is generally rarely seen, and even when it is found, it is mostly bred in captivity. To breed pangolins well, it is necessary to understand their characteristics, such as reproduction and feeding. So how many cubs does a pangolin give birth to in one litter? How long does it take to grow up? How does it feed?

How many cubs does a pangolin give birth to in one litter?

The pangolin is a viviparous animal and can reproduce throughout the year. Its estrus and mating period is mainly from April to May. During estrus, males and females live together, and after mating they separate. The birthing period is from December to January of the following year. The gestation period is about 5-6 months. Male pangolins remain in estrus for a long time; males are in estrus continuously and do not show periodicity. Females have 2-5 estrous cycles, with an estrous cycle of 12-25 days. After becoming pregnant, the female no longer goes into estrus. During the male's estrous period, he searches everywhere for females. During the estrus and mating period, males and females live together, and after mating they separate. The pangolin gives birth once a year, occasionally twice.

How long does it take to grow up?

A newborn pangolin weighs 90-130 grams, has its eyes closed, has no scales, and is light white in color. It opens its eyes at half a month old. After 1 month, it gains 200-500 grams, and the scales gradually keratinize, mostly dark brown. After 2 months, it can go out with the mother pangolin to forage. When going out, the young animal lies on the mother's back near the tail. It feeds on ants and termites, and also eats insect larvae and so on. At 6 months, the young animal can weigh 1500-2000 grams and can leave the mother to live independently.

How does it catch food?

Its food is mainly termites, and it also eats black ants, ant larvae, and the larvae of other insects. When foraging, it first grabs the ant nest with the long claws of its forelimbs, then inserts its mouth into the ant hole and uses its sticky, highly extensible tongue to lick up termites or other ants. The pangolin has a large food intake; the stomach of one adult pangolin can hold up to 500 grams of termites. According to scientists' observations, in 250 mu of woodland, as long as there is one adult pangolin, termites will not harm the forest. This shows that the pangolin plays a great role in protecting forests and embankments and in maintaining ecological balance and human health. Its predation methods are:

1. Extend its long, highly extensible tongue out beyond its lips and place it on the ground, letting ants with a keen sense of smell crawl all over the tongue, then suddenly retract the tongue, swallowing all the greedy ants into its belly.

2. Spread the scales all over its body, likewise letting the greedy ants crawl all over its body, then plunge into the water. Let the ants float to the surface upon contact with the water, then lick them up, not leaving a single one.

3. Break through the soil to dig a burrow and destroy the ant nest “whole pot and all”, eating everything together.