Journal article
Protocols for recording morphometric measurement of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)
MethodsX, Vol.7, Art. 101020
2020
Abstract
Accurate morphological description of species has essential implications in field identification and cladistics. Pangolins (Mammalia: Pholidota) are considered the world's most trafficked mammals. The Indian pangolin has a wide geographical distribution in the Indian subcontinent. However, morphoanatomical variations of M. crassicaudata across its range are poorly understood. The published morphoanatomical descriptions have disparities, partly due to the lack of standard protocols and procedures in morphometric data collection and reporting, thus making comparisons among different records less meaningful. This Method Article presents protocols and procedures to follow in morphometric data collection and reporting for M. Crassicaudata. Morphometric parameters can be measured and reported under three age classes; juvenile, sub-adult, and adult, as well as the sex to describe the species' sexual dimorphism. The proposed protocol includes 13 morphometric measurements of a pangolin body. Procedures to count and report the number of body scales with special reference to the body region of a pangolin and scale morph-type are described. Morphometry of the claws of forelimbs is described using the Curvature Linear Index [1].
Details
- Title
- Protocols for recording morphometric measurement of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata)
- Authors/Creators
- P. Perera (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityH.R. Algewatta (Author/Creator) - University of Sri JayewardenepuraH. Karawita (Author/Creator) - University of Sri Jayewardenepura
- Publication Details
- MethodsX, Vol.7, Art. 101020
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Identifiers
- 991005540717807891
- Copyright
- © 2020 The Authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Metrics
49 File views/ downloads
70 Record Views