habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
It is a predominantly solitary, terrestrial species that is present in various woodland and savannah habitats, preferring arid and mesic savannah and semi-arid environments at lower altitudes, often with thick undergrowth, where average annual rainfall ranges between 250 and 1,400 mm (Skinner & Chimimba 2005). They also occur in floodplain grassland, rocky slopes and sandveld up to 1,700 m (Coulson 1989; Pietersen 2013), but are absent from Karroid regions, tropical and coastal forests, Highveld grassland and coastal regions. The range is believed to largely be determined by the presence and abundance of ant and termite prey species and the availability of dens or above-ground debris in which to shelter. It occupies well-managed livestock and wildlife farms, but is absent from areas under crop farming, and occupies a wide range of soil types from heavy clay soils through alluvium to Kalahari sands (Pietersen 2013).This species is predominantly nocturnal with individuals spending the day in suitable earthen burrows, caves or in piles of plant debris, with Aardvark burrows being the most frequently used refuges (Pietersen et al. 2014b). Young animals are more diurnal than adults, and all age classes are more diurnal in the Kalahari during winter, while also becoming active earlier in eastern South Africa in winter. Pangolins are bipedal, walking on their hind legs with the front limbs and tail held off the ground and acting as a counterweight. However when they climb steep terrain (such as steep sand dunes) or when clambering over boulders in rocky terrain, they will use all four limbs and may additionally use their tails to push themselves up or as a support when clambering down steep surfaces. They are entirely myrmecophagous and only eat a small number of specific ant and termite genera (Jacobsen et al. 1991; Swart 1996; Richer et al. 1997; Swart et al. 1999; Pietersen et al. 2016). They are largely water independent but will drink from free-standing water when it is available (Stuart 1980; D. Pietersen pers. obs. 2013). Young start dispersing when about one year old (Pietersen et al. 2014b). In the Kalahari, home ranges of adults averaged 6.5 ± 5.9 km², while juveniles had average home ranges of 6.1 ± 4.0 km² (Pietersen et al. 2014b).
Ecosystem and cultural services: Pangolins feed exclusively on ants and termites and are thus important predators of these invertebrate taxa. A single pangolin literally consumes millions, if not billions, of ants and termites each year. They are highly prized by the Zulu people in South Africa and the species is considered the greatest gift you can bestow upon a tribal elder or chief. Body parts are used to treat and cure a number of ailments and are still regularly prescribed and highly sought after within rural South African tribal communities by traditional healers (Bräutigam et al. 1994; A. Baiyewu unpubl. data).
