Giant Pangolin
The Giant pangolin (Manis gigantea) is a pangolin species.
Members of the species inhabit Africa with a range streching along
the Equator from west Africa to Uganda. The giant pangolin is the
largest species of pangolin, or "scaly anteaters"the large, scaled
mammals belonging to the Manidae family. They subsist almost
entirely on ants and termites. The species was first described by
Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger in 1815.
Giant pangolin,
Manis gigantea
Habitat, range, and endangered status
The giant pangolin inhabits many countries with the largest
concentration in Uganda, Tanzania, and western Kenya. It is found
mainly in the savanna, rainforest, and forest, inhabiting areas
with large termite populations and available water. Giant pangolins
do not inhabit high-altitude areas.
Due to habitat destruction and deforestation, the species's numbers
have greatly declined, and this together with the hunting of giant
pangolins as bushmeat has led to concerns about population levels.
Because the species is nocturnal, few studies have been carried
out. Currently the pangolin is classified as an endangered
species.
Physical description
The average mass of the species is unknown, but one giant pangolin
was found to weigh 33 kg. Males are larger than females, with male
body length about 140 cm and female about 125 cm. It is the largest
of all pangolins, taking the name "giant pangolin" because of this.
The scales are usually colored brown or reddish-brown. Like all
pangolins, the species has large, armored scales and no hair except
in the eyelashs. Giant pangolin have long snouts, a long and thick
tail, and large front claws.
The animal has a strong sense of smell and large anal glands. Its
secretions may be significant to animal communication. The species
walks with most of its weight is on its columnar rear legs and curl
their front paws, walking on the outside of the wrists rather than
the palms to protect the claws. By using its tail for balance,
giant pangolins can even walk upright as a biped.
Giant pangolins are endothermic and bilateral symmetric.
Behavior
Giant pangolins, like other pangolin, are motile and nocturnal,
which makes observation difficult. They are also usually solitary,
although in one case an adult giant pangolin was seen in a burrow
with a juvenile. The species is capable of climbing trees and other
objects.
Diet
Like all pangolins, the giant pangolin is a specialized insectivore
that lacks teeth and the ability to chew. Its diet mainly consists
of ants and termites, which the species finds by tearing open
anthills and termite nests, both subterranean and mound-type.
Because of its relatively large size, the giant pangolin is
particularly well-suited to breaking open termite mounds, done by
leaning on the mound and resting its weight on its tail, and then
ripping into the mound with its front claws. The combination of
weight and physical damage quickly lead to partial collapse of the
mound, exposing the termites. It eats the insects by picking them
up with its sticky tongue (up to 16 inches in length).
Reproduction
Very little information about the reproduction of giant pangolins
is known. Two birth records exist, with one litter was found in
September and another in October, with the young weighing around
500 g. As in all pangolins, infants have soft scales that
eventually open and are born with open eyes. They cannot walk on
their legs, but can move on the stomach.
Conservation status: Endangered
Issue #366
