CLASSIFICATION OF MANIS : PANGOLIN
PHYLUM :- CHORDATA ( Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present )
Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium with brain present )
Sub-phylum :- VERTEBRATA ( vertebral column present)
Division :- GNATHOSTOMATA ( Jaws and paired appendages present )
Super class :- TETRAPODA ( Paired limbs, lungs, bony skeleton and cornified skin).
Class :-MAMMALIA ( Body covered with hairs. females have mammary glands ).
Sub-class :- THERIA ( Viviparous ).
Infra class :- EUTHERIA ( Placental mammals, vagina single ).
Order :- PHOLIDOTA ( Body covered by large overlapping plates ).
Genus :- Manis
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Manis is found in Africa and South Eastern Asia, India (Assam), Sikkim,
Nepal and the Himalayas.
HABIT AND HABITAT
It is found in the hilly tracts. It is a nocturnal and burrowing mammal. It feeds on ants and termites whose nest is broken by its sharp fore-claws.
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF MANIS : PANGOLIN
- Commonly called as scaly anteater or pangolin. The name pangolin comes from the Malay word pengguling, meaning “one who rolls up.
- Pangolins have large, protective keratin scales covering their skin; they are the only known mammals with this feature.
- Body measures about 90 cm in length and is divided into head, neck, trunk, tail and abdomen.
- Body covered by imbricating thick horny, overlapping scales arranged in longitudinal rows. Scales are thick and striated at the base, yellowish brown or clay coloured.
- Some species of pangolins are arboreal, others are terrestrial. Two species have semiprehensile tails, used in climbing.
- Between scales coarse hairs are found. Ventral body surface is covered with hairs.
- Head small. Snout pointed. Teeth absent. Eyes and pinnae small. Tongue long and glutinous.
- Pangolins have the ability to close their ears and nostrils as well as eyes, presumably to keep ants out.
- Tail is long and broad prehensile contains 16-17 scales in each row.
- Pangolins walk slowly with arched back and the forelimbs and anterior surface in contact with the ground. Limbs are strong and pentadactyle. Forelimb povided with strong curved claws while hind limbs are plantygrade.
- Pyloric stomach works like gizzard of birds, having small pebbles or stones in it and hence it is called as stone-eater or bajrokit.
- Pangolins are threatened by poaching (for their meat and scales, which are used in Chinese traditional medicine and heavy deforestation of their natural habitats, and are the most trafficked mammals in the world.
- They tend to be solitary animals, meeting only to mate and produce a litter of one to three offspring, which they raise for about two years.
Special features
Pangolins are conspicuous and remarkable because their backs are covered with large, overlapping scales made up of agglutinated hairs.
Identification
This mammal has distinct scales and above features, hence it is Manis.
REFERENCES
- https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pholidota/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangolin
- Book of Practical Zoology VERTEBRATE by S.S.LAL – Rastogi Publications.
- SOURCES OF IMAGES -https ://www.google.com / url? sa=i&url=https%3A %2F%2Fshare.amer i ca.gov%2Fwhats- worlds-most- t rafficked- mammal%2F&psig= AOvVaw395JZ7t_Iv pvJTm3T8yFIB&ust =160285977452800 0&source=images&c d=vfe&ved=2ahUK E wj32ZON7LbsAhVw 3X MBHRhHAfoQr4 kDegUIARC8AQ
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