Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and termites (Blattodea: Termitoidae) in the diet of wild white‐bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) in forest‐savanna habitats of Cameroon

Abstract

The white‐bellied pangolin Phataginus tricuspis (Rafinesque 1821) is a semiarboreal species occurring in tropical sub‐Saharan Africa. It is the world's most trafficked African pangolin species based on volumes recorded in seizures. Reintroduction of confiscated live pangolins and ex‐situ rearing are being explored worldwide as a conservation action. However, the husbandry of seized animals is challenging as the diet of the white‐bellied pangolin is poorly known and little studied. We analyzed the stomach contents of dead white‐bellied pangolins from two forest‐savanna protected areas. Stomach content samples from 13 white‐bellied pangolin specimens contained ~165,000 Arthropoda, mostly Hymenoptera (60.34%) and Blattodea (39.66%). Overall, we identified 39 termite and 105 ant species consumed as prey by pangolins. Individual pangolins examined had fed on a maximum of 31 ant species and 13 termite species. The termite and ant species richness varied significantly across the pangolins' last consumed meal. We recorded 24 ant genera dominated by Crematogaster (relative importance [RI] = 17.28). Out of 18 termite genera recorded, the genus Pseudacanthotermes (RI = 17.21) was the most important prey. Ten ant species were preferentially eaten by white‐bellied pangolin, with Crematogaster acis being the most common prey species. Four species of termite were most frequently eaten with Pseudacanthotermes militaris being the most abundant. The mean abundance of ants and termites varied among pangolin individuals. The season did not influence the mean abundance of termites eaten by pangolin individuals. However, ant abundance in stomach contents was significantly higher in the dry season. An improved understanding of pangolin feeding behavior and prey selection may help inform conservation husbandry efforts. For example, nutritional analysis of the food eaten by wild pangolins can guide the development of nutritional diets for captive pangolins.