Mammals nocturnal

Temminck's Ground Pangolin

Smutsia temminckii

Meet the world's most armored mammal, a prehistoric wonder that walks on its hind legs and wears a suit of scales. The Temminck's Ground Pangolin is a rare, gentle guardian of the African grasslands.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Total length 70–120 cm (27–47 in); weight 7–18 kg (15–40 lbs)

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Colors

Scales range from dark brown to olive-grey or yellowish-brown; skin on the belly and face is pale pinkish-grey.

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Key Features

Body covered in large, overlapping keratin scales
Often walks bipedally on hind legs with front claws tucked
Small, pointed head without external ears
Thick, heavy tail used for balance and defense

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern nocturnal

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Peak hours 9 PM - 3 AM

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Season Year-round; sightings increase in dry winter months when they may forage during the late afternoon.

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Diet Strictly myrmecophagous, eating only specific species of ants and termites which they extract using a long, sticky tongue.

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Habitat Savanna, open woodland, and grassland areas with sandy soil; avoids true deserts and dense tropical forests.

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Behavior

Temminck's Ground Pangolin is a solitary and primarily nocturnal creature, though it may occasionally emerge during the day in cooler winter months to conserve energy. They are famously shy and elusive, spending their daylight hours hidden in deep burrows usually stolen from aardvarks or porcupines. When they move, they often exhibit a unique bipedal gait, balancing on their heavy hind legs and using their tail as a counterweight while tucking their sharp digging claws into their chests.

These mammals are the ultimate specialists, having evolved a defense mechanism that makes them nearly untouchable by predators like lions or leopards. When threatened, they roll into a tight, impenetrable ball, protecting their soft underbelly and exposing only their sharp-edged scales. Because they lack teeth, they rely entirely on their powerful sense of smell to locate prey and a tongue that can be longer than their body to hunt.

In terms of social structure, they are largely independent, only coming together briefly for mating. They are highly sensitive to human encroachment and habitat change, making them a rare sight even in areas where they are known to reside. Observing one in the wild is considered a once-in-a-lifetime event for many wildlife enthusiasts.

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Camera Tips

Capturing a Temminck's Ground Pangolin on camera requires immense patience and strategic placement. Because they are low-slung animals, your camera should be mounted no higher than 30–50 cm (12–20 inches) off the ground. Angle the lens slightly upward if you are placing it near the base of a known termite mound or an active burrow entrance. These animals have an incredible sense of smell, so avoid wearing strong perfumes or leaving human scent on the camera casing during setup.

The best locations for your camera are along established 'game trails' or near water holes during the dry season. Unlike many other mammals, pangolins do not have a fixed 'home' burrow every night, but they do frequent the same foraging paths. Look for their distinct tracks—a central drag mark from the tail flanked by staggered hind-foot prints. If you find a termite mound with fresh excavations, that is a prime spot for a 48-hour soak.

Regarding settings, use a high-sensitivity PIR (passive infrared) sensor setting. Pangolins move slowly and deliberately, but their scales don't always radiate high levels of heat compared to furry mammals, which can occasionally fail to trigger lower-end cameras. Video mode is highly recommended; 20-second clips will allow you to see their fascinating bipedal movement, which a still photo often fails to capture effectively.

Avoid using white-flash cameras as the sudden burst of light can spook these sensitive creatures. Instead, opt for 'No-Glow' or black infrared LEDs. Since they are most active in the dead of night, ensure your camera has a strong infrared range. In the winter, try checking your cameras earlier in the evening, as they may shift their activity to the late afternoon (crepuscular) to avoid the freezing midnight temperatures of the African bush.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Temminck's Ground Pangolin.

Aardvark

Aardvarks have large, rabbit-like ears and thick skin with sparse hair, whereas the pangolin is covered in scales and has no visible external ears.

Giant Ground Pangolin

Much larger than the Temminck's, this species is found in the moist jungles and savannas of West and Central Africa, not the southern/eastern regions.

Cape Porcupine

Often sharing the same burrows, porcupines are identified by their long, sharp quills rather than the flat, overlapping scales of a pangolin.

Frequently Asked Questions

They are primarily nocturnal, usually active between 9 PM and 3 AM. However, in colder winter months, they may become crepuscular, emerging in the late afternoon to forage while it is still warm.

It is difficult to 'attract' them as they have very specific diets. The best way to encourage them is to maintain natural landscaping that supports ant and termite colonies, avoid using pesticides, and provide a shallow, ground-level water source.

They are specialists that eat ants and termites. They use their powerful front claws to rip into mounds and their long, sticky tongues to reach deep into tunnels to lap up the insects.

No, they are very rare in suburban settings. They are most commonly found in protected reserves, large farms, or rural areas with minimal human disturbance and plenty of natural cover.

While both eat ants and are nocturnal, the pangolin is covered in hard scales while the aardvark has thin hair. Additionally, pangolins often walk on their two back legs, whereas aardvarks always walk on all fours.

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