Long-tailed pangolin

Drawing of a long tail scales animal

The long-tailed or black belly pangolin ( Manis tetradactyla ) is a mammal of the family of pangolins ( Manidae ). It lives in the central Africa.

Features

Long-tailed pangolin among the smallest pangolins. They reach a body length of 30 to 40 centimeters, the tail can be 60 to 70 centimeters twice as long. The weight is 2 to 3 kilograms. Like all pangolins they are at the top of the head, the torso, on the outer sides of the limbs (but not on the forearms ) and tail covered with horny scales. These are mainly colored dark brown and have a brighter edge, which serves camouflage. The tail tip is unbeschuppt and instead carries a Tastsinnespolster. The skin that is visible, for example, the unprotected belly is dyed black or dark brown. The front feet carry large grave claws, the hind feet have claws on. The head is constructed very simply, as in all pangolins and toothless, the tongue very long.

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of the long tail scales animal extends from Senegal to Uganda and southward to southwestern Angola. Its habitat is forests, mainly rain forests.

Way of life

These animals are among the most distinctive tree dwellers within the pangolins. They climb with their claws and with its tail, which also acts as a prehensile tail and body weight can bear alone. When resting places serve them tree hollows. You should solitary life and mark their home range with the secretion of their anal glands. In case of threat they can be rolled up into a ball, which is also due to the sharp edges of the horny scales hardly break.

Their diet consists mainly of tree-dwelling ants, in addition they also take termites to himself. With the claws of the front feet, they can break the tree bark, with its long, sticky tongue they take their prey to him. They have no teeth and grind their prey with the stomach.

Threat

Little is known about the level of danger of the long tail scales animal. Probably represent the hunting for their meat and their scales, which have healing powers awarded, and habitat destruction through deforestation dar. the main threats The IUCN lists the species as though unharmed, but that is out of date.

System

The long-tailed pangolin is the only representative of the subgenus Uromanis within the pangolin ( Manis species ). Its closest relative is the white-bellied pangolin in its genus or subgenus ( Phataginus ) it is sometimes classified.