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Indian pangolin Manis crassicaudata (Geoffroy, 1803)
Book chapter

Indian pangolin Manis crassicaudata (Geoffroy, 1803)

T. Mahmood, R.K. Mohapatra, P. Perera, N. Irshad, F. Akrim, S. Andleeb, M. Waseem, S. Sharma and S. Panda
Pangolins: Science, Society and Conservation, pp.71-88
Academic Press
2020
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Abstract

The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is a medium-sized mammal typically reaching a weight of 8–16 kg and a maximum length of 148 cm, though extremes have been recorded. Distributed in South Asia, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the species occurs in a variety of habitats ranging from tropical rainforest to sub-tropical thorn forests and barren and desiccated areas. Solitary and nocturnal, Indian pangolins excavate deep burrows for shelter, and use their powerful claws to break into epigeal and subterranean ant nests and termite mounds to access prey. Longevity in the wild is unknown but in captivity an individual lived for more than 19 years. Data on abundance are limited but declines are reported in parts of the species’ range. Despite being protected, Indian pangolins are principally threatened by hunting for local use and consumption, and poaching for international trafficking of their scales to East Asia.

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