Pangolins are solitary creatures, most are nocturnal and highly secretive; thus it is difficult for scientists to study them in the wild, and many mysteries remain about their behavior and habits.

As one of the world’s largest consumers of pangolin products, primarily in traditional medicine, China’s domestic market plays a critical role in the survival of these gentle creatures.

The Chinese Pangolin is one of two species that researchers have now provided high-quality, nearly gapless genome sequences and analyzed these for information to aid in conservation of these animals.