Manis

Manis is a genus of pangolin mammals of the family Manidae, commonly known as pangolins. They have large scales, which cover most of their body. They are found in tropical areas of Asia and Africa.

Asian pangolins are characterized by having external ear pinnae and scales under the tail. Its name comes from the Malay word pengguling, which translates to "roller". The first unified and compared anatomical study between African and Asian pangolins was carried out by Francis Banguet in 1935. {{cr}, which is a pangolin, belongs to the Manidae family and is in danger of extinction since it is trafficked.

Features

Representatives of the genus Manis are medium to large sized pangolins. Smaller forms such as the Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) or the Palawan pangolin (Manis culionensis) only reach a head-torso length of about 35 to 54 cm, in the case of the large Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) reaches 84 cm. The tail is usually shorter than the rest of the body. In total, it measures between 25 and 71 cm long; females are generally smaller. In predominantly arboreal species, however, it is significantly longer than in ground-dwelling species, for example the tail of the Palawan pangolin (Manis culionenesis) can occupy up to 90% of the head length. torso. Body weight varies between 2.5 and 10 kg in the smallest species and up to 20 kg in the largest species. In the Pleistocene, Manis palaeojavanica appeared, which is the largest known representative of pangolins at all, with a total length of 2.5 m. The skull is conical or pear-shaped with a rostrum mostly elongated. The eyes are usually small and the ears are distinguished by a thickened protuberance of skin compared to African pangolins.

The external appearance of pangolins is characterized by long, hardened, plate-shaped scales that cover their body, which is an unusual attribute among mammals. Like all pangolins, the Manis species has scale armor that covers the top of the head, the back and flanks, the tail, and the outside of the legs. The individual scales are V-shaped and the tips point backwards. They form rows arranged transversely to the body and overlap like tiles. A single row of scales runs along the midline of the back, which, unlike the African representatives, extends to the tip of the tail. Long, fine hairs grow between the scales, which is also different from the African species. The non-scaly parts of the body usually have little hair. The limbs, generally short and strong, end in five rays with claws in front and behind. The inner and outer rays are clearly shorter than the central three, but are the same length in the hind legs of Asian pangolins. The median claw on the forefoot is elongated until it becomes a digging claw. On the hind foot, the median claw clearly surpasses the fourth ray claw, while both tend to be of equal length in African pangolins. In general, the claws on the hind legs are longer on average in arboreal species than in terrestrial species.

Way of life

Territorial behavior

The different species of Manis live solitary and are nocturnal, so their lifestyle is only known in detail. The times of the main activity are distributed differently, but normally the main phase lasts up to two hours. They live both on the ground and in trees, they move on all fours at ground level, in trees they climb like caterpillars with their backs stretched and bent. The long tail helps secure them and usually wraps around the trunk. They are also very good swimmers. Asian pangolins build burrows in the ground, but they also use tree holes. In case of immediate danger, the animals curl up into a ball, the tail then covers the non-scaled parts of the body.

Diet

The main diet consists of state-forming insects, such as termites and ants. Only the Indian pangolin above is less strictly myrmecophagous and also consumes other insects. Food is sought with the extraordinary sense of smell. However, the animal is usually very selective in its choice and only prefers representatives of certain types of insects. Pangolins use the extended central claw of their front legs to open the nests of ants and termites. Food is ingested with a long, sticky tongue, which can extend very far from the mouth.

Playback

The reproduction of each of the species of the genus Manis is little known. With the exception of the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), reproduction is not seasonally restricted. The gestation period is usually estimated at two or three months. Normally only one calf is born, the embryo develops in one of the two horns of the uterus. The young are widely developed, with open eyes and soft scales, and can crawl immediately after birth. They spend the first period in the burrow, then abandon it and ride clinging to the root of the mother's tail. Weaning is completed possibly after three months. Nothing is known about life expectancy in the wild.

Behavior

They are often compared to walking artichokes or pineapples. They can roll up into a ball when threatened, with their overlapping scales acting as armor. At birth, the scales are soft, but they harden as the animal develops.

Although not their primary weapon, pangolins' powerful legs, used to dig through hardened soil, are strong enough to break a human leg with a single blow. Pangolins can also emit a foul-smelling acid from glands near the anus, similar to that secreted by a skunk. Pangolins have short legs, with sharp claws that they use for digging.

Pangolins lack teeth and the ability to chew. Instead, they open ant and termite mounds with their powerful front claws and insert their long tongue.

Very little is known about the reproduction of this animal, but as a mammal we know that it is viviparous and the female usually gives birth to a single offspring. As has also been observed, pangolins live alone or in pairs, but never in packs.

The populations of these mammals have been reduced since their meat is in high demand in Africa and Asia; In China its meat is considered a delicacy. Furthermore, several Asian regions attribute medicinal powers to its scales without scientific evidence. In recent years, pangolins have been victims of species trafficking.

Threats and protection

Asian pangolins are used by humans in many ways. Its meat serves as a food source, both locally for protein supply and internationally as an exotic specialty. In addition, healing powers are attributed to the scales and numerous other parts of the body, making them attractive for Traditional Chinese Medicine, among other things, but also for other regional customs. The hunting of Asian pangolins by man dates back to a long tradition, but it was the internationalization of the trade since the second half of the XX century< /span> which considerably increased the pressure on the populations of the different manis species. Thus, between 1958 and 1965 alone, more than 60 tons of pangolin scales were legally exported from Sarawak. The animals captured or slaughtered mostly come from wild populations, and breeding measures have so far only been successful on rare occasions, as pangolins hardly reproduce in human care. This has brought some regional populations to the brink of collapse, especially in the northern mountain range, so pangolins are rare there today.

Since 2000, Asian pangolins have been subject to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. (CITES), so trade in the animals or their body parts is prohibited (CITES zero annual export quota). However, Asian pangolins often end up on the illegal black market, with China and Vietnam currently the main buyers. Hunting is increasingly shifting towards populations in the southern range. In the first decade of the XXI century, more than 6,000 live specimens were confiscated in Malaysia alone; in 2008, Vietnamese authorities They confiscated 24 tons of frozen pangolins and another 14 tons in Sumatra. In addition to this immense hunting pressure, the increasing loss of habitat due to the expansion of human settlements, as well as cropland, also plays a major role in threatening individual populations, although Asian pangolins are able to adapt to areas with human influence to some extent, as long as sufficient food is available. Due to these factors, the IUCN currently lists the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) and the Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica ) in the critically endangered category, as well as the nearby Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Palawan pangolin (Manis crassicaudata ). pangolin (Manis culionensis) in the "critically endangered" (in danger).

Species

There are 9 species currently alive and one fossil:

• Subgender Manis
  • Manis crassicaudata - Pangolín of India or Indian Pangolín
  • Manis pentadactyla - Chinese Pangolín
  • Manis paleojavanica † - Asian giant pangolin
• Subgender Paramanis
  • Manis culionensis - Filipino Pangolín.
  • Manis javanica - Pangolín malayo.
  • Manis mysteria- Mysterious Pangolin
• Subgender Smutsia
  • Giant Manis - Giant pangolin
  • Manis temminckii - Pangolín de Temminck or terrestrial pangolin
• Subgender Uromanis
  • Manis tetradactyla (o) Manis longicaudata- Long tail pangolin
• Subgender Phataginus
  • Manis tricuspis - Arboreal Pangolín or Pangolín