Tree Pangolin
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| Tree Pangolin[1] | ||||||||||||||
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| Manis tricuspis (Rafinesque, 1821) |
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 Distribution of the Tree Pangolin
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The Tree Pangolin (Manis tricuspis) is one of eight extant species of pangolin and is found in secondary forests. Also known as the White-bellied Pangolin, it is native to Africa, from Senegal to western Kenya, and southern Africa to Zambia.
Pangolins, in general, create burrows in the ant or termite hills they previously vacated, but the Tree Pangolin often sleeps in the trees. The two smaller pangolin species that live in trees within rainforests curl up to sleep in the fork of a branch or lie among the plants.
[edit] Physical characteristics
Female pangolin territories are solitary and small, less than 10 acres (40,000 m²), and they rarely overlap. Males have larger territories, up to 60 acres (200,000 m²), which overlap many female territories, resulting in male/female meetings. These meetings are brief unless the female is in breeding condition. When males and females meet while the female is in breeding condition mating occurs. Gestation of young occurs for 150 days and one young per birth is normal. The young pangolin is carried on its mother's tail until it is weaned after three months, but it will remain with its mother for five months in total. At first the newborn's scales are soft, but, after a few days, they start to harden. In captivity, females have been known to adopt the young of others.
The Tree Pangolin has many adaptations. When threatened it rolls up into a ball, protecting itself with its thick skin and scales. Its scales cover its entire body except for the belly, snout, eyes, ears, and undersides of the limbs. When a mother with young is threatened, it rolls up around the young, which also roll into a ball. While in a ball, it can extend its scales and make a cutting action by using muscles to move the scales back and forth. It makes an aggressive huff noise when threatened, but that is the extent of its noise making.
[edit] Biology and behavior
The Tree Pangolin eats insects such as ants and termites from their nests, or the armies of insects moving on the trees. It relies on its thick skin for protection, and digs into burrows with its long, clawed forefeet. It eats between 5 and 7 ounces (150 to 200 g) of insects a day. Pangolins use their 10 to 27 inch (250 to 700 mm) tongue which is coated with gummy mucus to funnel the insects into their mouth. The tongue is actually sheathed in the chest cavity all the way to the pelvic area.
This species can walk on all fours or on its hind legs using its prehensile tail for balance. The Tree Pangolin can climb up trees in the absence of branches. The pangolins' long tail actually sets a record for vertebrae in mammals, up to 47 vertebrae in some species. When walking on all fours, it walks on its front knuckles with its claws tucked underneath in order to protect them from wearing down. Its anal scent glands disperse a foul secretion much like a skunk when threatened. It has a well developed scent, but, as a nocturnal animal, it has poor eyesight. Instead of teeth it has a gizzard-like stomach full of stones and sand it ingests. The Tree Pangolin n Africa fills its stomach with air before entering water to aid in buoyancy for well developed swimming.
Its natural predators are leopards, hyenas, and pythons, but it is also hunted by humans. Humans use the meat, which is considered a delicacy. The meat of the Cape pangolin is especially popular with local people. Pangolin hide is used for boots and other leathery goods. The scales are thought to have medicinal value as an antiseptic, fever combatant, skin disease defense, and aphrodisiac. The scales are used as is or ground into powder for potions. These uses have led to reduced pangolin population even though there are bans on commercial trade of all pangolin species. The seven species of pangolin are now all becoming extremely rare as a result of this.
[edit] References
- ^ Schlitter, Duane A. (2005-11-16). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 531. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ Pangolin Specialist Group (1996). Manis tricuspis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
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