Geographical distribution : Manis is found in Africa and South Eastern Asia, India(Assam), Sikkim, Nepal and the Himalayas.
Habit and habitat: It is found in the hilly tracts. It is a nocturnal and burrowing mammal. It feeds on ants and termites whose nest is broken by its sharp fore-claws.
Comments:
1. Commonly called scaly anteater or pangolin.
2. Body measures about 90 cm in length and is divided into head, neck, trunk, tail and abdomen.
3. Body covered by imbricating thick horny, overlapping scales arranged in longitudinal rows. Scales are thick and striated at the base, yellowish brown or clay coloured.
4. Between scales coarse hairs are found. Ventral body surface is covered with hairs.
5. Head small. Snout pointed. Teeth absent. Eyes and pinnae are small. Tongue long and glutinous.
6. Tail is long and the broad prehensile contains 16-17 scales in each row.
7. Pangolins walk slowly with arched back and the forelimbs and anterior surface in contact with the ground. Limbs are strong and pentadactyl. Forelimbs provided with strong curved claws while hind limbs are plantigrade.
8. Pyloric stomach works like gizzard of birds, having small pebbles or stones in it and hence it is called a stone-eater or bajrokit.
Special features : When disturbed, it rolls its body with head between the forelegs and tail around body.
Source:
1. Practical Zoology Vertebrates by S.S.Lal. 2. A Manual of Practical Zoology Chordates by Dr. P.S. Verma.
