Pangolins specialize in eating ants and termites, same as their South American counterparts, the anteaters. Pangolins also have a long, narrow tongue that they use to probe nests. Viscous saliva is secreted onto the tongue by a large salivary gland that sits in a recess in the chest. In a specialized horny stomach. Pangolins have a small, conical head with a reduced or absent outer ear and an elongated body that tapers to a large tail.
Thick eyelids prevent ant bites and special muscles keep nostrils closed while feeding.
Limbs are short but strong and terminate in clawed digits. In Africa two of the four species are principally arboreal and inhabit the rain forest. They sleep and feed in the canopy and rarely leave the trees. Terrestrial pangolins are larger than their tree dwelling relatives and inhabit an array of habitats from rain forest to open dry savanna. They use their powerful claws to demolish nests of ground termites and ants.