The Philippine pangolin or Palawan pangolin, also known as the malintong (Manis culionensis), is a pangolin species endemic to the Palawan province of the Philippines. Its habitat includes primary and secondary forests, as well as surrounding grasslands. This species is moderately common within its limited range, but is at risk due to heavy hunting.

 

Taxonomy

The species was first described by Casto de Elera in 1915; it was also mentioned by de Elera in an 1895 work. In the past, this species has been included with the Sunda pangolin, Manis javanica, but has been considered a distinct species since 1998. Five distinct morphological characteristics involving the skull and the scales have been identified which separate it from the closely related Manis javanica. Both M. javanica and M. culionensis are grouped in subgenus Paramanis. Genetic isolation leading to the speciation between these species is hypothesized to have been caused by rising sea levels severing a land bridge from Borneo in the Early Pleistocene.