Species Details

@U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters

Indian Pangolin Did you see this animal?

Scientific Name : Manis crassicaudata
Family : Manidae
Order : Pholidota
Class : Mammalia
Phylum : Chordata
Other Name : Scaly Anteater, Thick-tailed Pangolin
Habitat : Forest, Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland
 
Description : The Indian pangolin is covered in tough, overlapping scales made of keratin, which protect it from predators. It has a narrow, pointed head and a long, slender tongue that it uses to extract ants and termites from their nests. Its body is roughly the size and shape of a small dog, with short legs and a prehensile tail.

The Indian pangolin can grow up to 1.2 meters in length, including its tail, and can weigh up to 15 kilograms.

The Indian pangolin is found in a range of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas, throughout the Indian subcontinent.

The Indian pangolin is an insectivore and feeds primarily on ants and termites, which it locates using its acute sense of smell.

The Indian pangolin is primarily nocturnal and spends much of its time foraging for food. When threatened, it will roll itself into a tight ball, using its scales as armor to protect itself from predators.

The Indian pangolin is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to habitat loss, poaching for its scales and meat, and the use of its body parts in traditional medicine. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including the establishment of protected areas and public awareness campaigns.
 
Distribution in Bangladesh
References:
description written by:Asad U. Tanvir,Department of Zoology,Jagannath University,Dhaka; reviewed by:Muntasir Akash,Department of Zoology,University of Dhaka;Taxonomic Checklist:Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals, 2015, IUCN; information sources:wikipedia,iucnredlist.org; photo credit:U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters(www.inaturalist.org/people/janconl), photo copyright: iNaturalist.more information please contact with us.