File:Scaly_ant_eater_by_by_Dushy_Ranetunge_2.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Indian pangolin
Sign in to saveAlso known as Manis crassicaudata, thick-tailed pangolin
species of mammal
Species
Endangeredvia IUCN
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Image
- IndianPangolin.jpg
Show 9 more facts
- taxon rank
- species
- IUCN conservation status
- Endangered status
- taxon name
- Manis crassicaudata
- Commons category
- Manis crassicaudata
- Commons gallery
- Manis crassicaudata
- taxon common name
- Vorderindisches Schuppentier
- CITES Appendix
- Appendix I of CITES
- habitat
- savanna
- short name
- M. crassicaudata
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~7 min read
Encyclopedic overview
The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), also called thick-tailed pangolin and scaly anteater, is a pangolin native to the Indian subcontinent. Like other pangolins, it has large, overlapping scales on its body which act as armour. The colour of its scales varies depending on the colour of the earth in its surroundings. It can also curl itself into a ball as self-defence against predators such as the tiger. It is an insectivore feeding on ants and termites, digging them out of mounds and logs using its long claws, which are as long as its fore limbs. It is nocturnal and rests in deep burrows during the day.
It is not common anywhere in its range, and is threatened by hunting for its meat and various body parts used in traditional medicine.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Indian pangolin” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.