Indian Pangolin Overview
Appearance
The Indian pangolin presents a unique appearance with its overlapping, keratinous scales covering its entire body, creating an armor-like shell. Its scales are brown to pale yellow, contrasting with its soft, pinkish underbelly.
This creature has a relatively small head and a long, sticky tongue, perfect for extracting ants and termites from their nests. Its body is robust, and it moves with a somewhat hunched posture, often rolling into a defensive ball when threatened.
Origins And Evolution
The Indian pangolin’s origins and evolution are intertwined with the broader history of pangolins, which are among the most ancient mammals on Earth. Pangolins belong to the order Pholidota, a lineage that dates back over 80 million years, making them some of the oldest mammals.
Over time, these creatures developed their iconic armored scales, which protect predators. The Indian pangolin’s insectivorous diet led to the development of a long, sticky tongue for probing into termite mounds and ant nests.
This evolutionary journey showcases the remarkable adaptations that have allowed pangolins to persist through geological eras, even as they face contemporary threats such as habitat loss and poaching.
Behavior and Lifestyle
The Indian pangolin is a primarily nocturnal and solitary creature. It spends its nights foraging for termites and ants in a specialized manner, using its long, sticky tongue to extract insects from underground nests.
During the day, it seeks shelter in burrows or dense vegetation to avoid predators and extreme temperatures. When threatened, the pangolin curls into a defensive ball, protecting its soft underbelly with its tough, overlapping scales.
Indian Pangolin Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Pholidota
- Family: Manidae
- Genus: Manis
- Species: Manis crassicaudata
Indian Pangolin Locations
- India
- Sri Lanka
- Nepal
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Myanmar (Burma)
Fast Facts
- Name: Indian Pangolin
- Scientific Name: Manis crassicaudata
- Habitat: Forests, Grasslands
- Diet: Insectivorous Anteater
- Physical Features: Scaled Armor
- Nocturnal: Nighttime Forager
- Solitary: Largely Solitary
- Unique Order: Pholidota Order
- Lifespan: 10-20 Years
- Conservation Status: Endangered Species
- Fun Facts: Roll into a Ball
Physical Characteristics
- Color: Brown Scales
- Skin Type: Armored Scales
- Top Speed: Slow Movement
- Lifespan: 10-20 Years
- Weight: Medium-sized
- Length: Scaled Body
- Age of Sexual Maturity: 2-4 Years
- Age of Weaning: 3-4 Months
Indian Pangolin FAQs
What is an Indian pangolin?
The Indian pangolin is a scaly anteater native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, known for its protective keratin scales.
Why are pangolins called “scaly anteaters”?
Pangolins are called “scaly anteaters” because they have protective scales covering their bodies and a diet primarily consisting of ants and termites.
How many species of pangolins are there?
There are eight species of pangolins, with the Indian pangolin being one of them.
Why are pangolins covered in scales?
Pangolins have scales made of keratin, which protect them from predators and are useful for digging into ant and termite nests.
Do pangolins make good pets?
No, pangolins do not make good pets. They are protected species, and keeping them as pets is illegal in many countries.