Anteater vs Pangolin: What's the Difference?
Pangolins are sometimes called scaly anteaters, but they’re covered in scales and not closely related. The anteater can be dangerous to people; the pangolin isn't dangerous to people.
Common questions
Is a pangolin an anteater?
No. Pangolins are sometimes called scaly anteaters, but they aren't closely related. Pangolins are covered in scales and live in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; the four true anteaters have fur and live in the Americas.
Quick answers
They differ on 3 of the 8 quick answers: dangerous, awake when, do people eat it.
| Question | Anteater | Pangolin |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? | Insects only | Insects only |
| Dangerous? differs | Can be | No |
| Domesticated? | No | No |
| Awake when? differs | Day & night | Night |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? | No | No |
| Do people eat it? differs | No | In places |
At a glance
| Question | Anteater | Pangolin |
|---|---|---|
| Found in differs | South America, Central America | Africa, Asia |
| Habitat differs | Grassland, Rainforest, Forest | Forest, Grassland, Rainforest |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Length differs | 35 cm (silky anteater) to 1.8 m (giant anteater, with tail) | 30–100 cm |
| Weight differs | 18–39 kg (giant anteater) | – |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in differs | Fur | Scales |
| Lives | Alone | Alone |
| Lives for differs | 14–16 years | 15–20 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims | Yes | Yes |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Anteater
Four species of toothless mammals that eat ants and termites, related to sloths: the giant anteater, the silky anteater and two tamanduas. Pangolins, aardvarks and echidnas are sometimes called anteaters but aren’t related.
Everything on the anteater page
Pangolin
Scale-covered, ant-eating mammals of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, also called scaly anteaters. They are nocturnal and solitary, and raise their one to three young for about two years.
Everything on the pangolin page
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Commonly confused animals.