The long-tailed pangolin (''Phataginus tetradactyla''), also called the African black-bellied pangolin or ''ipi'',Dictionary.die.net
/ref> is a diurnal,

arboreal Arboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some animals may scale trees only occasionally (scansorial), but others are exclusively arboreal. The hab ...

pangolin Pangolins, sometimes known as scaly anteaters, are mammals of the order Pholidota (). The one extant family, the Manidae, has three genera: '' Manis'', '' Phataginus'', and '' Smutsia''. ''Manis'' comprises four species found in Asia, while ' ...

species belonging to the family

Manidae Manidae (" spirits") is the only extant family of pangolins. This family comprises three genera ('' Manis'' from subfamily Maninae, '' Phataginus'' from subfamily Phatagininae, and '' Smutsia'' from subfamily Smutsiinae), as well as the extinct ...

, in the order

Pholidota Pangolins, sometimes known as scaly anteaters, are mammals of the order Pholidota (). The one Neontology, extant family, the Manidae, has three genera: ''Manis'', ''Phataginus'', and ''Smutsia''. ''Manis'' comprises four species found in Asia, ...

. They feed on ants rather than termites. The common names for this species stem from physical characteristics, such as the extremely long tail or the dark hairs that cover the underside of their bodies and limbs. Pangolin comes from the Malay word ''pengguling'', meaning "something that rolls up".

Description

''Phataginus tetradactyla'' has a characteristic very long tail (hence its common name), reaching a length around . The tail contains 46–47 caudal vertebrae, a record among mammals. The body can reach a length of and weigh 2.0–2.5 kg. The males are larger than the females. Even with the long tail, this

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

is the smallest of eight extant species of pangolins. As with other pangolins, the long-tailed pangolin is covered with 9 to 13 rows of overlapping, artichoke leaf-shaped keratinous scales. The scales are dark brown color with a brighter rim, which serves as camouflage. The feet have large, curved claws. The tip of the tail is bare and contains a sensory pad that allows the individual to seek out and grip branches. They do not have teeth, while the tongue is very long. The abdomen, underside of the limbs, and face are covered in dark fur instead of scales. The long-tailed pangolin is the only diurnal pangolin species.

Distribution and habitat

Native to parts of western and central

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

, the long tailed-pangolin has been found as far west and north as

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

, across the continent to

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...

, and south into

Angola Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the west-Central Africa, central coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking world, Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) country in both total area and List of c ...

. They are found in areas such as the

Congo Basin The Congo Basin () is the sedimentary basin of the Congo River. The Congo Basin is located in Central Africa, in a region known as west equatorial Africa. The Congo Basin region is sometimes known simply as the Congo. It contains some of the larg ...

and Guinean forests. A distinct gap in populations has been observed starting in southwest

Ghana Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It is situated along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and shares borders with Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to t ...

, with no record of individuals found through to western

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. Long-tailed pangolins are found in moist, tropical riverine and swamp forest environments, but have been observed in altered forests ( Bush), and agricultural areas of former lowland rain forests. They are almost exclusively

, spending the majority of their time in the canopy region. They prefer to live in the interior part of the forests, avoiding the outermost edges. They are capable swimmers, and are usually found near water.

Life history

Behavior

Long-tailed pangolins are a solitary, shy species. They communicate with other members of their species using

pheromones A pheromone () is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to affect the behavi ...

that are produced in a pair of anal scent glands. The pheromones in the exudate are likely used to attract mates and establish territorial edges. They are the only species of pangolin known to be diurnal, which may be a method of avoiding food competition with its sister species, the tree pangolin (''Manis tricuspis''). They have developed a number of antipredatory mechanisms to protect themselves from predators such as pythons and leopards, starting with their scales, which act as camouflage. When threatened, long-tailed pangolin roll themselves into a tight ball, exposing only their sharp scales. They may also emit a foul-smelling fluid from their anal glands. They have been observed sleeping (at night) in this rolled-up posture in tree hollows, epiphytes, tree ferns or in old ant nests. The primarily arboreal lifestyle of the long-tailed pangolin has come with the development of a number of climbing adaptations. Their long,

prehensile Prehensility is the quality of an appendage or organ that has adapted for grasping or holding. The word is derived from the Latin term ''prehendere'', meaning "to grasp". The ability to grasp is likely derived from a number of different origin ...

tails can easily support their body weight, and are commonly used to seek out supportive holds. Occasionally, they dangle just by their tails. Their durable claws also allow them to dig into the bark of the trees and pull themselves up into the canopy. When they are unable to reach another branch, they have been known to extend their tails to the next hold and climb up it. While the species spends most of its life in the canopy, it is also an apt swimmer. They occasionally drop from overhanging branches into streams below. They move through the water with a quick, undulating movement.

Diet

The long-tailed pangolin is myrmecophagous, primarily feeding on ants. They are the only known species of pangolin known not to depend on termites as a large portion of their diet. Using their well-developed sense of smell, they seek out arboreal ant nests, then tear them open with their strong, curved claws. They use their long, sticky tongues to capture escaping ants, pulling them into their mouths and swallowing them whole. Since they lack teeth to physically chew the food, they possess a muscular, gizzard-like stomach with horny coated walls to grind the food. The acanthocephalan '' Intraproboscis sanghae'' parasitizes the pangolin by using their proboscis hooks to pierce and hold the wall of the intestines.Amin, O. M., Heckmann, R. A., Sist, B., & Basso, W. U. (2021). A review of the parasite fauna of the black-bellied pangolin, Phataginus tetradactyla Lin.(Manidae), from central Africa with the description of Intraproboscis sanghae n. gen., n. sp.(Acanthocephala: Gigantorhynchidae). The Journal of Parasitology, 107(2), 222-238.

Reproduction

Little is currently known about long-tailed pangolin reproduction. They are thought to mate throughout the year, with an average gestation period of roughly 140 days. Female pangolins give birth to a live, single offspring at a time. The young are born with soft scales that harden within a few days. They ride on their mother's tail for up to three months after birth. Long-tailed pangolin reach sexual maturity around two years of age.

Conservation

The long-tailed pangolin is classified as vulnerable by the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status ...

. Like most pangolins, the species is heavily exploited for the

bushmeat Bushmeat is meat from wildlife species that are Hunting, hunted for human consumption. Bushmeat represents a primary source of animal protein and a cash-earning commodity in poor and rural communities of humid tropical forest regions of the worl ...

and

traditional medicine Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) refers to the knowledge, skills, and practices rooted in the cultural beliefs of various societies, especially Indigenous groups, used for maintaining health and treatin ...

trade. It is relatively tolerant of moderate habitat modification, as seen in populations that have found homes in agricultural areas of former lowland rainforests.

References

External links

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{{Taxonbar, from=Q28173098 long-tailed pangolin long-tailed pangolin Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Species that are or were threatened by human consumption