Long-tailed pangolins have a great sense of smell, which they use to locate prey. In addition, they have a touch-sensitive pad on the tip of the tail, which is used to help them navigate trees. They possess a pair of anal scent glands, which produces a strong exudate that is deposited with feces and urine. The pheromone in anal gland exudate is likely used to attract mates and may also be used to demarcate territorial boundaries.
Communication Channels: chemical
Other Communication Modes: pheromones ; scent marks
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Although populations of Manis tetradactyla are declining, this species is still classified as "least concern" by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is relatively widespread, resides primarily in protected areas, and is tolerant of moderate habitat modification. Manis tetradactyla is the least often observed of the African pangolin species, and populations may be larger than predicted. The bushmeat trade presents the greatest threat to the long-term survival of this species.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
There are no known adverse effects of long-tailed pangolins on humans.
Long-tailed pangolins are hunted and sold by native people as part of the bushmeat trade. A survey taken in Nigeria (Anadu et al., 1988) found that long-tailed pangolins were worth about 12 US dollars per kilogram. They are also killed for their scales, which are used in traditional medicines, as jewelry, and as good luck charms.
Positive Impacts: food ; body parts are source of valuable material
Long-tailed pangolins are important ants predators and likely have a significant influence on ant demographics throughout their geographic range. There is no information regarding parasites specific to this species.
Long-tailed pangolins are myrmecophagous, with a primary diet consisting mostly of ants. Unlike other species of pangolin, they do not depend on termites as a large part of their diet. Long-tailed pangolins use their sense of smell to locate arboreal ant nests and rip them open with their powerful claws. They also attack columns of foraging ants that move along the tree. Like other ant-eating mammals, long-tailed pangolins have long, sticky tongues that they use to catch ants. Prey are then broken down in its muscular, gizzard-like stomach.
Animal Foods: insects
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Long-tailed pangolins are native to parts of western and central Africa in the Ethiopian biogeographical zone. They range from Senegal to Uganda and Angola, encompassing Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, and Senegal.
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
Long-tailed pangolins are strictly arboreal, residing in hollow trees or epiphytes. They live in tropical riverine and swamp forests, and rainforests, including agricultural areas within rainforests. They are good swimmers and are always found close to water; they may drop into the water from overhanging branches. Long-tailed pangolins prefer to live away from the outer edges of forests. They are generally restricted to the forest canopy.
Habitat Regions: tropical
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest
Wetlands: swamp
Other Habitat Features: agricultural
There is no information available regarding the lifespan of long-tailed pangolins. In general, pangolins do not do well in captivity, typically surviving less than six months.
Long-tailed pangolins have long prehensile tails that make up almost two-thirds of their total length. They have the longest tails (60 to 70 cm) and the shortest bodies (35 to 45 cm) of the eight pangolin species. Males are slightly larger than females. The tail contains 46 to 47 caudal vertebrae, a record number among mammals. Their bodies are covered with large overlapping scales, which are dark brown with yellowish edges and are shaped like artichoke leaves. Unlike Asian pangolins, they do not have hairs at the base of their scales. In addition to the 9 to 13 rows of scales covering its back, long-tailed pangolins have scales everywhere except the face, throat, belly, inner arms and legs, and a small bare patch on the underside of the tail. This bare patch contains a sensory pad used to seek out holds while climbing. Like other ant-eating mammals, long-tailed pangolins have strong, curved claws, specialized for breaking into ant nests. They have no teeth and long tongues that extend into the abdomen. Adults range in mass from 2 to 2.5 kg, and head-body length ranges from 95 to 115 centimeters. Long-tailed pangolins are sometimes mistaken for their closest relative, tree pangolins, another arboreal, African species. The two species are similar in size and coloration.
Range mass: 2 to 2.5 kg.
Range length: 95 to 115 cm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger
Major predators of long-tailed pangolins include leopards, pythons, and humans. Their scales are useful for protection against predators. When long-tailed pangolins are in the trees, these scales act as camouflage, and when an individual is threatened, it curls itself into a ball, so that only the scaled parts of its body are exposed. The sharp posterior edge of each scale sticks up slightly acting as armor and a potential weapon if the predator gets too close.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Little is known about the mating system of long-tailed pangolins or pangolins in general. They are solitary, only coming together to mate. During copulation, the male and female face each other and intertwine tails.
It is likely that long-tailed pangolins breed throughout the year. The gestation period is about 4.5 months. Females give birth to a single offspring at a time. At birth, young weigh 100 to 150g. They are born with soft scales, which harden in a matter of days. Young ride on their mother for up to 3 months by clinging to her tail. Although weaning and lifespan are unknown, long-tailed pangolins are thought to reach sexual maturity at around 2 years old. More is known about the reproductive life-hostory of tree pangolins, which are closely related to long-tailed pangolins. Tree pangolins give birth to a single young after a 6 month gestation period. Young are born with eyes open and scales still soft, which harden after 2 days. Young tree pangolins stay in the nest until they are 2 to 3 weeks old, at which point they ride on their mothers' backs and tails. Weaning occurs after 3 to 4 months, and adult size is reached after 15 months.
Breeding interval: Long-tailed pangolins breed throughout the year.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Average gestation period: 140 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
Limited is known of parental care in long-tailed pangolins. Females nurse and care for their young for extended periods, and young are dependent on their mothers for up to 3 months. Males are not involved in parental care.
Parental Investment: female parental care ; pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
The long-tailed pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla), also called the African black-bellied pangolin, or ipi,[4] is a diurnal, arboreal pangolin species belonging to the family Manidae, in the order Pholidota. They feed on ants rather than termites. The common names for this species stem from physical characteristics, such as the extremely long tail or the dark hairs that cover the underside of their bodies and limbs. Pangolin comes from the Malay word pengguling, meaning “something that rolls up”.
Phataginus tetradactyla has a characteristic very long tail (hence its common name), reaching a length around 60–70 cm (24–28 in). The tail contains 46–47 caudal vertebrae, a record among mammals. The body can reach a length of 30–40 cm (12–16 in) and weigh 2.0–2.5 kg. The males are larger than the females.
Even with the long tail, this species is the smallest of eight extant species of pangolins. As with other pangolins, the long-tailed pangolin is covered with 9 to 13 rows of overlapping, artichoke leaf-shaped keratinous scales. The scales are dark brown color with a brighter rim, which serves as camouflage. The feet have large, curved claws. The tip of the tail is bare and contains a sensory pad that allows the individual to seek out and grip branches. They do not have teeth, while the tongue is very long. The abdomen, underside of the limbs, and face are covered in dark fur instead of scales.[5]
The long-tailed pangolin is the only diurnal pangolin species.
Native to parts of western and central Africa, the long tailed-pangolin has been found as far west and north as Senegal, across the continent to Uganda, and south into Angola. They are found in areas such as the Congo Basin and Guinean forests. A distinct gap in populations has been observed starting in southwest Ghana, with no record of individuals found through to western Nigeria.
Long-tailed pangolins are found in moist, tropical riverine and swamp forest environments, but have been observed in altered forests (bush), and agricultural areas of former lowland rain forests. They are almost exclusively arboreal, spending the majority of their time in the canopy region. They prefer to live in the interior part of the forests, avoiding the outermost edges. They are capable swimmers, and are usually found near water.
Long-tailed pangolins are a solitary, shy species. They communicate with other members of their species using pheromones that are produced in a pair of anal scent glands. The pheromones in the exudate are likely used to attract mates and establish territorial edges. They are the only species of pangolin known to be diurnal, which may be a method of avoiding food competition with its sister species, the tree pangolin (Manis tricuspis). They have developed a number of antipredatory mechanisms to protect themselves from predators such as pythons and leopards, starting with their scales, which act as camouflage. When threatened, long-tailed pangolin roll themselves into a tight ball, exposing only their sharp scales. They may also emit a foul-smelling fluid from their anal glands. They have been observed sleeping (at night) in this rolled-up posture in tree hollows, epiphytes, tree ferns or in old ant nests.
The primarily arboreal lifestyle of the long-tailed pangolin has come with the development of a number of climbing adaptations. Their long, prehensile tails can easily support their body weight, and are commonly used to seek out supportive holds. Occasionally, they dangle just by their tails. Their durable claws also allow them to dig into the bark of the trees and pull themselves up into the canopy. When they are unable to reach another branch, they have been known to extend their tails to the next hold and climb up it.
While the species spends most of its life in the canopy, it is also an apt swimmer. They occasionally drop from overhanging branches into streams below. They move through the water with a quick, undulating movement.
The long-tailed pangolin is myrmecophagous, primarily feeding on ants. They are the only known species of pangolin known not to depend on termites as a large portion of their diet. Using their well-developed sense of smell, they seek out arboreal ant nests, then tear them open with their strong, curved claws. They use their long, sticky tongues to capture escaping ants, pulling them into their mouths and swallowing them whole. Since they lack teeth to physically chew the food, they possess a muscular, gizzard-like stomach with horny coated walls to grind the food.
Little is currently known about long-tailed pangolin reproduction. They are thought to mate throughout the year, with an average gestation period of roughly 140 days. Female pangolins give birth to a live, single offspring at a time. The young are born with soft scales that harden within a few days. They ride on their mother’s tail for up to three months after birth. Long-tailed pangolin reach sexual maturity around two years of age.
The long-tailed pangolin is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.[1] Like most pangolins, the species is heavily exploited for the bushmeat and traditional medicine trade. It is relatively tolerant of moderate habitat modification, as seen in populations that have found homes in agricultural areas of former lowland rainforests.
The long-tailed pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla), also called the African black-bellied pangolin, or ipi, is a diurnal, arboreal pangolin species belonging to the family Manidae, in the order Pholidota. They feed on ants rather than termites. The common names for this species stem from physical characteristics, such as the extremely long tail or the dark hairs that cover the underside of their bodies and limbs. Pangolin comes from the Malay word pengguling, meaning “something that rolls up”.
