Pangolin

Pangolins
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Eutheria
Superorder:	Laurasiatheria
Order:	Pholidota; Weber, 1904
Family:	Manidae; Gray, 1821
Genus:	Manis; Linnaeus, 1758
Species
	Manis culionensis; Manis gigantea; Manis temminckii; Manis tricuspis; Manis tetradactyla; Manis crassicaudata; Manis pentadactyla; Manis javanica

Pangolins (pronounced /ˈpæŋgəlɪn/) or scaly anteaters are mammals in the order Pholidota. There is only one extant family (Manidae) and one genus (Manis) of pangolins, comprising eight species. (There are also a number of extinct taxa within Pholidota.) Pangolins have large scales on their skin and are found in tropical regions of Africa and Asia. The name "pangolin" is derived from the Malay word pengguling ("something that rolls up").

In older classifications, pangolins were classified with various other orders, for example Xenarthra, which includes the ordinary anteaters and the similar-looking armadillos. Newer genetic evidence,^[2] however, indicates that the closest living relatives of pangolins are the Carnivora, with which they form a clade, the Ferae^[3]. Some paleontologists have classified the pangolins in the order Cimolesta, together with several extinct groups.

Physical description and behavior

The physical appearance of pangolins is marked by large, hardened, plate-like scales. The scales, which are soft on newborn pangolins but harden as the animal matures, are made of keratin, the same material of which human fingernails and tetrapod claws are made. The pangolin is often compared to a walking pine cone or globe artichoke. It can curl up into a ball when threatened, with its overlapping scales acting as armour and its face tucked under its tail. The scales are razor-sharp, and provide extra defense for this reason. The front claws are so long that they are unsuited for walking, and so the animal walks with its fore paws curled over to protect them. Pangolins can also emit a noxious smelling acid from glands near the anus, similar to the spray of a skunk. Pangolins have short legs, with sharp claws which they use for burrowing into termite and ant mounds, as well as climbing. Much like frogs and fleas, their legs contain strong muscles which enable them to all but explode into bursts of exceptional speed. Pangolin's have at times been determined to reach speeds up to 48m/h across flat grounds.

The size of pangolins vary by species, ranging from 30 cm to 100 cm (12 to 39 inches). Females are generally smaller than males.

The tongues of pangolins are extremely elongated and extend into the abdominal cavity. By convergent evolution pangolins, the giant anteater, and the tube-lipped nectar bat, all have tongues which are disattached from their hyoid bone and extend past their pharynx deep into the thorax.^[4] This extension lies between the sternum and the trachea. Large pangolins can extend their tongues as much as 40 cm (16 inches).

Pangolins have a developed section of their brain, which yields a heightened awareness to problem solving. Although this sense is primarily used to find food in obscure locations, when kept in captivity they are remarkable escape artists and thus are often referred to as the Houdini Ant-eater.

Diet

Pangolins lack teeth and the ability to chew. Instead, they tear open anthills or termite mounds with their powerful front claws and probe deep into them with their very long tongues. Pangolins have an enormous salivary gland in their chests to lubricate the tongue with sticky, ant-catching saliva.

Some species, such as the Tree Pangolin, use their strong tails to hang from tree branches and strip away bark from the trunk, exposing insect nests inside.

Reproduction

Gestation is 120-150 days. Females usually give birth to a single offspring, but occasionally to two, and, rarely, three. Birth weight is 80-450 g (3-18 ounces) each.

Threats

Pangolin are hunted and eaten in many parts of Africa and it is one of the more popular types of bush meat. Pangolins are also in great demand in China because their meat is considered a delicacy and some Chinese believe pangolin scales reduce swelling, promote blood circulation and help breast-feeding women produce milk. This, coupled with deforestation, has led to a large decrease in the numbers of Giant Pangolins.

Pangolin populations have suffered from illegal trafficking. In May 2007, for example, Guardian Unlimited reported that 31 pangolins were found aboard an abandoned vessel off the Coast of China. The boat contained some 5,000 endangered animals.

The Guardian recently provided a description of the killing and eating of pangolins: "A Guangdong chef interviewed last year in the Beijing Science and Technology Daily described how to cook a pangolin: 'We keep them alive in cages until the customer makes an order. Then we hammer them unconscious, cut their throats and drain the blood. It is a slow death. We then boil them to remove the scales. We cut the meat into small pieces and use it to make a number of dishes, including braised meat and soup. Usually the customers take the blood home with them afterwards.'" ^[5]

Taxonomy

ORDER PHOLIDOTA
- Family †Epoicotheriidae
- Family †Metacheiromyidae
- Family Manidae
  - Subfamily †Eurotamanduidae
    - Genus †Eurotamandua
  - Subfamily Maninae
    - Genus †Cryptomanis
    - Genus †Eomanis
    - Genus †Necromanis
    - Genus †Patriomanis
    - Genus Manis
      - Subgenus Manis
        Indian Pangolin (M. crassicaudata)
        
        Chinese Pangolin (M. pentadactyla)
      - Subgenus Paramanis
        Sunda Pangolin (M. javanica)
        
        Philippine Pangolin (M. culionensis)
      - Subgenus Smutsia
        Giant Pangolin (M. gigantea)
        
        Ground Pangolin (M. temmincki)
      - Subgenus Phataginus
        Tree Pangolin (M. tricuspis)
      - Subgenus Uromanis
        Long-tailed Pangolin (M. tetradactyla)

References

^ Schlitter, D.A. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 530–531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^ Murphy, Willian J.; et al. (2001-12-14). "Resolution of the Early Placental Mammal Radiation Using Bayesian Phylogenetics". Science. 294 (5550): 2348–2351. doi:10.1126/science.1067179. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
^ http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/6/93
^ Chan, Lap-Ki (1995). "Extrinsic Lingual Musculature of Two Pangolins (Pholidota: Manidae)". Journal of Mammalogy. 76 (2): 472–480.
^ Watts, Jonathan (2007-05-26), "'Noah's Ark' of 5,000 rare animals found floating off the coast of China", The Guardian {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

[msw3-1] Schlitter, D.A. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 530–531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.

[2] Murphy, Willian J.; et al. (2001-12-14). "Resolution of the Early Placental Mammal Radiation Using Bayesian Phylogenetics". Science. 294 (5550): 2348–2351. doi:10.1126/science.1067179. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)

[3] ttp://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/6/93

[4] Chan, Lap-Ki (1995). "Extrinsic Lingual Musculature of Two Pangolins (Pholidota: Manidae)". Journal of Mammalogy. 76 (2): 472–480.

[5] Watts, Jonathan (2007-05-26), "'Noah's Ark' of 5,000 rare animals found floating off the coast of China", The Guardian {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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