Socially, pangolins are nocturnal animals that keep to themselves. They do not have teeth or vocal chords, so their only form of threatening behavior comes from swinging their powerful tail at enemies; they can also produce a noxious smell (akin to a skunk) to spray at predator animals. Predators tend to include large jungle cats, from which they attempt to defend themselves by rolling into a tightly closed ball.

Acting as a secondary consumer, the main job of a pangolin within its ecosystem is as insectivore; for this job, they are known as the guardians of the forest. The ecosystem services provided by a single pangolin (which can eat 70 million ants and termites per year), contributes to millions of dollars saved in pest control annually. A single pangolin can protect an area as large as 31 football fields (41 acres) from termite destruction.

Their long claws (used for destroying termite and ant mounds) also function as soil tilling - as they walk and burrow, pangolins help to mix nutrients and aerate the soil; this aids the decomposition cycle of forest organisms and helps promote future growth. Abandoned pangolin burrows can also serve as habitats for other forest animals.