Pangolins are unique mammals, instantly recognizable by the protective armor of keratin scales covering their bodies. These solitary, insect-eating creatures possess specialized adaptations for their restrictive diet. The most remarkable feature is the pangolin’s extraordinary tongue, an anatomical marvel evolved to reach, capture, and consume thousands of tiny prey items. This specialized organ defines the pangolin’s survival strategy.
The Extraordinary Length
The pangolin’s tongue is exceptional for its physical dimension relative to the animal’s size. In some species, the tongue can measure longer than the entire length of the pangolin’s head and body combined. For example, the Giant Ground Pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) has been recorded with a tongue reaching up to 70 centimeters (about 27.5 inches) in length.
Smaller species can still extend a tongue of 40 centimeters (16 inches) or more when fully deployed. The tongue is extremely slender, with an approximate diameter of only 0.5 centimeters (one-fifth of an inch). This combination of length and narrow width allows the organ to probe deep into the narrow tunnels of insect nests where its prey resides.
The Unique Muscular Anchor
The tongue achieves its phenomenal length because its muscular root is not anchored in the mouth or throat, unlike in nearly all other mammals. The typical mammalian tongue is supported by the hyoid bone, which is connected to the skull. Pangolins lack this standard skeletal attachment near the jaw, allowing the tongue’s structure to expand dramatically.
Instead of terminating at the hyoid, the pangolin’s powerful tongue muscles are anchored far back in the animal’s body cavity. The muscle fibers extend backward, bypassing the throat and trachea, to attach near the sternum, or breastbone. In some species, the muscle origin extends even further back, anchoring in the pelvic girdle near the hip region.
This deep internal anchorage provides the necessary space and leverage for the coiled tongue to be housed and rapidly deployed. When retracted, the long, thin tongue is stored safely within a specialized muscular sheath or pouch that extends deep into the chest cavity. This arrangement allows the apparatus to be retracted quickly and efficiently after feeding.
Mechanism of Prey Capture
The pangolin’s tongue is a highly efficient instrument for harvesting vast quantities of ants and termites, a process known as myrmecophagy. Specialized musculature allows for the rapid, snake-like extension and retraction of the tongue into insect galleries. This action is a fast, continuous deployment, often repeated multiple times a second.
A large pair of salivary glands produces a thick, highly adhesive saliva that coats the entire length of the tongue. This mucus is the primary mechanism for capturing prey, as the pangolin lacks teeth to chew the insects. The prey adheres instantly to the sticky surface of the tongue as the pangolin probes the nest.
The tongue is then quickly pulled back into the mouth, bringing with it a mass of insects trapped in the saliva. Specialized facial muscles allow the pangolin to seal its nostrils and ears shut while feeding, defending against swarms of biting ants and termites. The prey is swallowed whole, relying on a highly modified stomach structure for digestion.
Specialized Diet and Feeding Habits
Pangolins are insectivores whose diet consists almost entirely of ants and termites. They locate the nests and mounds of their prey primarily using a well-developed sense of smell, as their eyesight is poor. Once a nest is found, the pangolin uses its strong, curved front claws to tear open the hard outer shell of the mound or log.
The pangolin then inserts its long, sticky tongue deep inside the exposed tunnels to begin feeding. The volume of prey consumed is immense, reflecting the high energy demands of these animals. An adult pangolin can consume an estimated 140 to 200 grams of insects per day.
This daily intake can translate to over 70 million individual insects consumed annually, demonstrating the tongue’s effectiveness. The swallowed insects pass into a muscular, gizzard-like stomach. This stomach contains keratinous spines and small stones, which the pangolin intentionally ingests to help grind the food.