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What the sources say

Sunda PangolinManis javanica

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Sunda Pangolin profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 50 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Manis javanica (Malayan pangolin). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysswishes its tail with its scales erect, then
The source saysWhen threatened, a pangolin will swish its tail about with the pointed scales erect. If that doesn't work to deter the threat, the animal will curl up into a tight ballNote: Tagline. 'then' is ADW's own sequence ('If that doesn't work').
The page saysOverlapping, sharp-tipped scales
The source sayswhose coat of movable and sharp-tipped scales ... They are covered from just above the nostrils to the tips of their tails by many rows of overlapping scalesNote: stats.superpower, first clause.
The page saysPrimary and secondary tropical forest, open savanna, thick bush, gardens and plantations across Southeast Asia
The source saysMalayan pangolins inhabit a variety of landscapes, including primary and secondary forests, open savannah country, and areas vegetated with thick bush. They often observed in cultivated areas such as gardens and plantations.Note: stats.habitat, a list of habitat categories. First clause unchanged, so biome.ts reads the same biome. 'tropical': ADW Habitat Regions 'tropical'; 'Southeast Asia': ADW 'found in southeastern Asia'.
The page saysOnly ants and termites
The source saysthey are extreme specialist (myrmecophages) eating only ants and termitesNote: stats.diet, first clause. Reviewer cut 'tracked down mostly by scent': a two-container test with N=2 does not describe how wild pangolins hunt.
The page sayscollected with a sticky 25 cm tongue
The source saysThey have extremly long, thin tongues, capable of extending about 25 cm, which covered with a sticky saliva. This helps them collect termites and ants.Note: stats.diet, second clause.
The page saysIn the Sunda pangolin these scales are derived from hairs
The source saysThese scales are derived from hairs.
The page saysSunda pangolins are 79 to 88 centimetres long, tail included, and males are typically larger than females.
The source saysThey are 79-88 cm long, including the tail, and males are typically larger than females.Note: 'Adults run' changed to the source's plain 'They are'.
The page saysScales Derived From Hair
The source saysThese scales are derived from hairs.Note: Heading. Replaces 'The Only Mammal Wearing Scales', a group fact made a species superlative.
The page saysA Sunda pangolin's known predators include leopards and pythons.
The source saysKnown Predators humans (Homo sapiens) leopards (Panthera pardus) pythons (Boidae)Note: Reviewer cut 'corners' and 'it doesn't run': ADW says 'Under threat, a pangolin can move swiftly on hindfeet alone'.
The page saysWhen threatened, it swishes its tail about with the pointed scales erect. If that doesn't work, it curls up into a tight ball with its soft belly protected within.
The source saysWhen threatened, a pangolin will swish its tail about with the pointed scales erect. If that doesn't work to deter the threat, the animal will curl up into a tight ball so its soft belly is protected within.Note: Reviewer cut 'a ring of hardened plates held shut by a well-developed set of trunk muscles'; the neuromuscular point is now its own attributed sentence.
The page saysRolled Into a Tight Ball
The source saysthe animal will curl up into a tight ball so its soft belly is protected withinNote: Heading. 'Unbreakable' cut; the source says 'tight'.
The page saysIf the ball is unrolled, the pangolin's last resort is to squirt a foul-smelling liquid while emptying its bowels at the same time.
The source saysIf the pangolin is unravelled, its last resort is to squirt a foul-smelling liquid onto the potential predatory while devoiding its bowels at the same time.Note: Reviewer replaced 'If an attacker still manages to pry it open' (adds force) with the source's 'unravelled', and 'spray' with 'squirt'.
The page saysA Sunda pangolin has no teeth.
The source saysthe mouth lacks teethNote: Reviewer cut 'so it laps up food instead of chewing it', which no source states.
The page saysIts tongue extends about 25 centimetres and is coated in sticky saliva that helps it collect termites and ants.
The source saysThey have extremly long, thin tongues, capable of extending about 25 cm, which covered with a sticky saliva. This helps them collect termites and ants.
The page saysThe tongue passes through the chest cavity and anchors to the pelvis, and the skeleton is adapted to fit it, including the lack of a collarbone.
The source saysThey have significant adaptations to account for their enormous tongue which passes through the chest cavity and anchors to the pelvis. These include lack of a clavicleNote: Reviewer reversed the causation: the draft said the tongue runs to the pelvis because there is no collarbone; ADW lists the missing clavicle as an adaptation to account for the tongue.
The page saysAn adult pangolin may eat an estimated 70 million insects a year
The source saysIt is estimated that an adult pangolin may consume about 70 million insects annually.Note: Kept at ADW's scope (an adult pangolin, insects, 'may'). The draft's 'In the wild, an adult Sunda pangolin ... ants and termites' widened it.
The page saysits forefeet carry large digging claws
The source saystheir forefeet are equipt with pads on the soles, large digging claws and are longer and stronger than their hindfeet
The page saysin primary and secondary forest, open savanna and thick bush, and is often found in gardens and plantations
The source saysMalayan pangolins inhabit a variety of landscapes, including primary and secondary forests, open savannah country, and areas vegetated with thick bush. They often observed in cultivated areas such as gardens and plantations.Note: 'often' is the source's own. Replaces 'scrubby savanna', which merged two of the source's categories.
The page saysIt is hunted for its skin, scales and meat, and its parts are used as medicine.
The source saysMalayan pangolins are hunted for their skins, scales, and meat. Their parts are used for medicinal purposes.Note: Replaces 'taken for scales used in traditional medicine and for meat': ADW does not say 'traditional' or tie medicine to scales alone, and lists skins.
The page saysHunted for Scales and Meat
The source saysMalayan pangolins are hunted for their skins, scales, and meat.Note: Heading. Replaces 'Hunted for the Armor Itself'.
The page saysIn many rows of overlapping scales, from just above the nostrils to the tip of the tail: 17 to 19 rows across the midsection and more than 20 along the tail.
The source saysThey are covered from just above the nostrils to the tips of their tails by many rows of overlapping scales (17-19 rows on midsection and >20 rows along tail)Note: FAQ 1. Reviewer cut the keratin sentence (ADW, the FAQ's ref, does not say keratin), 'alone' and 'like roof tiles'.
The page saysThe scales on the back and sides are hard and derived from hairs. The underbelly and face have whitish to pale-brown hair instead.
The source saysThe scales on the back and sides are olive-brown to yellowish and hard. These scales are derived from hairs. The underbelly and face are covered in whitish to pale-brown hairNote: FAQ 1.
The page saysThey are sometimes found in pairs, but are mainly solitary, nocturnal and timid, and are thought to travel an average of 0.7 to 1.8 kilometres a day.
The source saysMalayan pangolins are sometimes found in pairs, but are mainly solitary, nocturnal, and timid. ... They are thought to travel an average of 0.7-1.8 km/day.Note: FAQ 2. 'Mostly not' answers the question with the source's 'mainly'. Reviewer cut 'spending their nights alone digging out insects' (added), restored 'thought to' and 'average', and cut 'usually a mother carrying her single pup', which tied pairs to mothers and young when ADW does not.
The page saysParental care seems to fall to the mother alone.
The source saysParental care seems to be the responsibility only of females.Note: FAQ 3. The FAQ's ref moved from pangolinsg-sunda to adw-manis-javanica: the draft's protective-mother and adoption sentences were ADW's, not the Specialist Group's. The gestation and maturity sentence was cut rather than cited to ADW, whose 2003 gestation (130 days) disagrees with the Specialist Group's current 6 to 7 months.
The page saysA litter is usually one young, which rides on the base of her tail.
The source saysRange number of offspring 1 to 2 (rarely) Average number of offspring 1 ... At other times, the young rides upon the base of the mother's tail.Note: FAQ 3.
The page saysMothers are extremely protective: when threatened, a mother curls into a tight ball with her young safe inside.
The source saysMother pangolins are extremly protective. When threatened, a mother will curl up into a tight ball with her young safely nestled within.Note: FAQ 3. 'safe inside' for the source's 'safely nestled within' ('nestled' trips audit:ai).
The page saysFemales have also been documented adopting other females' young.
The source saysObservations of females adopting other's young have been documented.Note: FAQ 3.

Source
02

Challender et al. 2019

Challender et al. (2019). Manis javanica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12763A123584856.

The page saysThe Sunda pangolin is Critically Endangered.
The source saysIUCN category (from title): Critically EndangeredNote: Body sentence. Reviewer cut 'The same scales that block a leopard's teeth are why', an unsourced cause.
The page saysCritically Endangered
The source saysIUCN category (from title): Critically EndangeredNote: stats.conservationStatus. Category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List per docs/fact-check.md; verify:quotes checks it against the assessment DOI directly.

Source
03

IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group

Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica). IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group.

The page saysIt ranges across Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam
The source saysDistribution Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; Indonesia; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Singapore; Thailand; Viet Nam.
The page saysThe IUCN's Pangolin Specialist Group calls it the mammal most frequently found in illicit trade in Asia.
The source saysIn Asia it has the undesirable status as the mammal most frequently found in illicit trade.Note: A current state, attributed to the group's live page (footer (c) 2026).

Source
04

Choo et al. 2016

Choo et al. (2016). Pangolin genomes and the evolution of mammalian scales and immunity. Genome Research.

The page saysA scale-armored mammal
The source saysUnlike other placental mammals, pangolin skin is covered by large and overlapping keratinized scalesNote: Tagline. Reviewer replaced 'The only mammal wearing scales' (a group fact turned into a species superlative).
The page sayscurls into a near-impregnable ball when threatened
The source sayspangolins curl into near impregnable balls, covering their scaleless abdomen using their well-developed neuromuscular system, during sleep or when threatenedNote: Tagline. Reviewer replaced 'unbreakable' with the source's 'near impregnable'.
The page saysa well-developed neuromuscular system that curls it into a ball over its scaleless belly
The source sayspangolins curl into near impregnable balls, covering their scaleless abdomen using their well-developed neuromuscular systemNote: stats.superpower. Reviewer replaced 'trunk muscles' (not in the source) and 'its one soft, scaleless patch' (ADW: the face is hair-covered too) with the source's words.
The page saysUnlike other placental mammals, pangolins have skin covered in large, overlapping keratinized scales.
The source saysUnlike other placental mammals, pangolin skin is covered by large and overlapping keratinized scalesNote: Replaces 'the only mammal that wears true scales': the source's scope is pangolins against other placental mammals.
The page saysa 2016 genome study proposed that their evolution likely involved genes related to hair formation
The source saysWe further postulate that genetic changes during the evolution of hair-derived pangolin scales likely involved genes related to hair formation in generalNote: '2016' is the reference's publication year. Reviewer replaced 'found the genes behind them are likely the same ones other mammals use to grow hair, repurposed and hardened into overlapping plates': 'found' was 'postulate', 'the same ones' was 'involved genes related to', and 'repurposed and hardened' was added.
The page saysThe same genome study found IFNE, a gene important in skin and mucosal immunity
The source saysinterferon epsilon ( IFNE ), exclusively expressed in epithelial cells and important in skin and mucosal immunityNote: Replaces 'a gene other mammals rely on'.
The page saysintact in 71 other mammal species, disabled by mutations in both the Malayan (another name for the Sunda) and Chinese pangolins
The source saysthe single copy intronless IFNE gene is pseudogenized in both pangolin species (confirmed by Sanger sequencing; sample size = 8) but is intact in 71 other mammalian species ( Fig. 2 A). We found an insertion from positions 195 to position 219 and a point mutation at position c235C > T causing a premature stop codon. Other frameshift deletions at positions 264 and 540–546 would cause the loss of function.Note: 'both pangolin species' are the Malayan (Manis javanica) and Chinese pangolins the study sequenced. 'mutations', plural: an insertion, a point mutation and frameshift deletions.
The page saysThe authors proposed that the scales may compensate for the immunity the skin would normally provide.
The source saysWe propose that pangolin scales may be an important morphological innovation to compensate for the decrease in immunity normally provided by the skin.Note: Attributed as the authors' proposal with their 'may'. Replaces 'so the scales may be compensating', which made the link the site's own inference.
The page saysA Missing Immunity Gene
The source saysthe single copy intronless IFNE gene is pseudogenized in both pangolin speciesNote: Blockquote lead. Replaces 'Immunity Traded for Armor', which stated as a trade what the paper only proposes.
The page saysPangolins curl into near-impregnable balls this way using a well-developed neuromuscular system, the genome study notes.
The source sayspangolins curl into near impregnable balls, covering their scaleless abdomen using their well-developed neuromuscular system, during sleep or when threatened

Source
05

Ahmad et al. 2021

Ahmad et al. (2021). Hematology and serum biochemistry of captive Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) in Wildlife Reserves Singapore. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science.

The page saysA study at Wildlife Reserves Singapore counted captive pangolins as adult above 4 kilograms for females and 6 for males.
The source saysSunda pangolins were considered adult when their body weight was above 4.0 kg in females and above 6.0 kg in males.Note: An adulthood threshold for captive animals, worded as one. Past tense replaces the present-tense 'classify'.

Source
06

Yan et al. 2022

Yan et al. (2022). Weaning period and growth patterns of captive Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) cubs. PLOS ONE.

The page saysIn a separate study of captive cubs, the females' average weight levelled off at 5.4 kilograms by 16.4 months old, which the authors took as physical maturity.
The source saysAt 16.4 months old, the average body weight stabilized at 5385 g (n = 7), indicating physical maturity.Note: 5385 g is 5.4 kg. Females: the passage sits under 'mass and length of female Sunda pangolins at sexual and physical maturity'. Reviewer cut 'hand-reared': the cubs were born to rescued mothers at the Guangxi rescue centre and followed their mothers, so the source does not call them hand-reared.

Source
07

DiPaola, Yindee & Plotnik 2020

DiPaola, Yindee & Plotnik (2020). Investigating the use of sensory information to detect and track prey by the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) with conservation in mind. Scientific Reports.

The page saysIn a small 2020 study, two pangolins found the baited one of two containers by smell alone, while one given only sight or only sound did not.
The source saysIn an object-choice task in which only one of two containers was baited with food, the pangolins were able to find the food with olfactory information alone (N = 2), but not with visual or acoustic information alone (N = 1).Note: '2020' is the reference's publication year. Sample sizes now stated: N=2 for smell, N=1 for sight and sound.
The page saysThe single pangolin tested on all three senses may be able to follow prey scent trails to their source, but the researchers found no evidence it could start a hunt from distant prey odours.
The source saysThe single subject tested on all three domains was further tested on how he used smell to find food ... The results suggest that our subject may have the capacity to exploit scent trails left by prey which can be tracked to a final source, though we found no evidence to suggest that he had the ability to initiate hunts based on distant prey odors.Note: Source's 'may have the capacity' restored; the draft said 'could track'.
The page saysFinding Food by Smell
The source saysthe pangolins were able to find the food with olfactory information alone (N = 2)Note: Heading. Replaces 'Hunting Blind, By Scent Alone': the abstract says nothing of blindness (Choo says 'poor vision') and tests smell in a food-finding task, not hunting 'alone' by scent.

Source
08

Lam et al. 2020

Lam et al. (2020). Identifying SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses in Malayan pangolins. Nature.

The page saysIn 2020, researchers reported SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses in Malayan pangolins seized in anti-smuggling operations in southern China, and suggested pangolins should be considered possible hosts in the emergence of new coronaviruses.
The source saysHere we report the identification of SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses in Malayan pangolins (Manis javanica) seized in anti-smuggling operations in southern China. Metagenomic sequencing identified pangolin-associated coronaviruses that belong to two sub-lineages of SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses, including one that exhibits strong similarity in the receptor-binding domain to SARS-CoV-2. The discovery of multiple lineages of pangolin coronavirus and their similarity to SARS-CoV-2 suggests that pangolins should be considered as possible hosts in the emergence of new coronavirusesNote: '2020' is the reference's publication year. Reviewer replaced 'closely related' with the paper's 'SARS-CoV-2-related', and 'a possible host in the search for COVID-19's origins' with the abstract's own scope, 'the emergence of new coronaviruses'.

Source
09

Lee et al. 2020

Lee et al. (2020). No Evidence of Coronaviruses or Other Potentially Zoonotic Viruses in Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) Entering the Wildlife Trade via Malaysia. EcoHealth.

The page saysA separate study swabbed 334 Sunda pangolins confiscated in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah between 2009 and 2019, and none tested positive for a coronavirus.
The source sayswe collected throat and rectal swabs from 334 Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) confiscated in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah between August 2009 and March 2019 ... No sample yielded a positive PCR result for any of the targeted viral familiesNote: Reviewer replaced 'ten-year' (the span is about nine and a half years) with the source's dates, 'entering Malaysia's illegal trade' with 'confiscated in', and 'none carrying' with the test result. The targeted families include Coronaviridae.
The page saysIts authors concluded that the related viruses found in pangolins were more plausibly caught after the animals entered the trade network
The source saysWe therefore conclude that the detections of SARS-CoV-2-related viruses in pangolins are more plausibly a result of their exposure to infected people, wildlife or other animals after they entered the trade network.Note: Discussion-section conclusion, replacing 'suggesting the infected animals had picked it up during the trade itself'. 'related viruses' refers back to the SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses of the previous sentence.
The page saysand that Sunda pangolins are likely incidental rather than reservoir hosts.
The source saysthe likelihood is that Sunda pangolins are incidental rather than reservoir hosts of coronavirusesNote: The paper's own terms and hedge, replacing 'a natural source'.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.