Black-Bellied Pangolin

Black-Bellied Pangolin (Long-Tailed Pangolin)

Black-bellied pangolins (also known as the long-tailed pangolin), are found living in the forests of West and Central Africa.

Under significant threat from hunting for both local and international markets and from habitat loss, black-bellied pangolins are considered Vulnerable by the IUCN and populations are decreasing.  Black-bellied pangolins are one of the most arboreal pangolin species, using their long prehensile tail to assist in tree climbing.

How to recognise a black-bellied pangolin

Physical characteristics

All pangolins are covered in overlapping scales, a rare trait in mammals. The scales differ in size depending on where they are found on the body, with head scales often the smallest. Pangolins have a cone shaped head, small eyes and long, sticky tongues which they use for feeding.

A black-bellied pangolin can be recognised by its small body size and long tail in comparison to other species.  They have black skin which contrasts with their golden- brown scales.

While it is similar, and often confused with the white-bellied pangolin, as both live in trees, a black-bellied pangolin has a notably longer tail.

Unique traits

Black-bellied pangolins are known for spending most of their time in trees, using tree hollows or hollowed-out insect nests to sleep in. Unlike other pangolin species, which are mainly nocturnal, black-bellied pangolins  are also active during the daytime.

A black-bellied pangolin balancing on a tree branch (c) Tessa Ullmann

Where do black-bellied pangolins live?

Black-bellied pangolins are found in ten countries across Central and West Africa, such as Cameroon, where our Guardians of Dja programme works to protect their forest habitat. They are found in forest regions, often in riparian or swamp forests which are habitats typically dominated by palms and specialised swamp trees.

In more northern areas of their distribution, such as Guinea, black-bellied pangolins have been found in dry forests, without palms, or in degraded forest habitats, plantations or farmland in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.

What do black-bellied pangolins eat?

Black-bellied pangolins are myrmecophagous, meaning that they feed on ants and termites. They use their long, sticky tongues to catch their prey.

Black-bellied pangolin (c) Sangha Pangolin Project, Maja Gudehus

Black-Bellied Pangolin Behaviour & Reproduction

Behaviour

Black-bellied pangolins are solitary animals that spend most of their time in trees. They use their long tails for balance and climbing. It is unknown at what height in the trees black-bellied pangolins rest or are most active at.

Much remains to be discovered about black-bellied pangolins behaviour, one of the reasons why it is so important to protect the ecosystems that they inhabit.

Reproduction

Black-bellied pangolins are aseasonal breeders, meaning that they do not breed in a specific period and can have offspring throughout the year. A female is pregnant for around 140 days and will give birth to a single young. Infants ride on their mother’s tail as she moves across the trees.