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Mammalia 2015; aop Morpho-anatomical characteristics of Indian pangolin (

Manis crassicaudata ) from Potohar Plateau, Pakistan

Article  in  Mammalia · February 2015

DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2014-0179

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Short Note
Nausheen Irshad, Tariq Mahmood* and Muhammad Sajid Nadeem
Morpho-anatomical characteristics of Indian
pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) from Potohar
Plateau, Pakistan
Abstract: We collected 10 live and two dead specimens
of Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) from Potohar
Plateau to record their morpho-anatomical characteris-
tics. The average body weight and length were recorded
in three age classes: juvenile, sub-adult and adult. The
maximum body weight, body length and tail length was
20 kg, 147.3 cm, and 85.7 cm, respectively. The total num-
ber of scales was 286±6.4, 271±24 and 294±11.0 in the juve-
nile, sub-adult and adult stages, respectively. The size of
the scales varied on different body regions, with smallest
being on the head and the largest on the trunk region. The
number of scales on the head differed significantly from
that on the trunk (p < 0.01) and tail (p < 0.05) regions. The
number and size of the scales on the fore limbs differed
significantly (p < 0.05) from those on the hind limbs. The
relative tongue length constituted 37% of the total body
length of the adult specimens. The digestive tract consti-
tuted 7% of the relative body weight and 19%–23% of the
relative body length, whereas relative length of the repro-
ductive tract was 12%.
Keywords: anatomy; Indian pangolin; morphometery;
Pakistan.
DOI 10.1515/mammalia-2014-0179
Received December 19, 2014; accepted December 19, 2014
The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata, E. Geoffroy,
1803) is distributed in South Asia from the eastern parts of
Pakistan to much of India south of the Himalayas, south-
ern Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with historical record
*Corresponding author: Tariq Mahmood, Assistant Professor,
Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture
University, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan,
e-mail: tariqjanjua75@uaar.edu.pk
Nausheen Irshad and Muhammad Sajid Nadeem: Department
of Wildlife Management, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University,
Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
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Mammalia 2015; aop
of occurrence in southwest China and Myanmar (IUCN
1996). The presence of 11–13 rows of blonde-striated scales
on the body makes it distinctive among other mammals
(Roberts 1997). It has a meager audible range but has a
highly developed sense of smell used for searching food
as it snuffles in the air to detect ants and termites (Heath
1988). Its feet have spongy pads fortified with strong claws
and digits that are capable of digging burrows.
The body weight of an adult Indian pangolin was
reported to be 8–11 kg and its body length ranged from
48 to 75 cm; a long sticky tongue and a highly muscu-
lar stomach is considered to be a compensation for not
having teeth (Prater 1971). The two mammae (5–8 mm) in
females are positioned in the thoracic region. In males,
the testes do not descend down into the scrotum but are
retained in the abdomen. The Indian pangolin produces a
heckling sound when distressed. For defense, it hides its
soft body parts under hard scales, curls up, and also emits
some fluid from its anal gland (Roberts 1997).
The Asian pangolin species have been categorized
under Appendix II of the CITES since 1975 (CITES 2000).
However, international trade of these species has been
proscribed as they are assigned zero export quotas in
2000 (Pantel and Chin 2008). The Indian pangolin has
recently been listed as “Endangered”, but this change in
conservation status has not deterred the massive illegal
killings of the species in the Potohar Plateau (Mahmood
et  al. 2012). Information about the morphology and
anatomy of wild Indian pangolin is not well documented
because of lack of scientific data about the species in
the region. In the present study, we measured the exter-
nal characteristics and some internal visceral organs of
Indian pangolin specimens collected from the Potohar
Plateau, Pakistan.
A total of 10 live and two dead specimens collected
from Potohar Plateau (32°33′ and 34°3′ N and 71°89′ and
73°37′ E, Table 1) were segregated into different age classes
following Lim et al. (2007) with slight modifications. Lim
et al. (2007) considered Manis javanica with a body mass of
 Table 1 External body measurements of different specimens (n = 12) of Indian pangolin captured/collected from different areas at the Potohar Plateau.

Site of capture/collection   Sex  Body  Body girth  Head-body  Tail length  Total  Snout  Ear length  Limbs length (cm)
weight (kg) (cm) length (cm) (cm) length (cm) length (cm) (cm) 
Fore limbs  Hind limbs

Juveniles specimens
Chakri (Sihal)RWP   Male  0.780  20.32  25.4  16.5  41.6  1.9  0.75  7.6  6.8
Jhelum (Pamal)   Male  2.05  25.4  36.83  22.8  58  3.8  1  12.7  10.16
Chakwal (Murreed)   Male  2  30.48  35.56  27.9  63.5  3.8  1  12.7  10.16
2      N. Irshad et al.: Morpho-anatomy of Indian pangolin

Mean±SE   n = 3  1.61±0.41  25.4±2.9  32.5±3.61  22.4±3.29  54.36±6.57  3.16±0.63  0.91±0.83  11.0±1.70  9.04±1.12

Sub-adult specimens
Islamabad (Malpur)   Female  4.5  38.1  51.81  40.6  92.4  4.3  1  17.78  16.5
Chakwal (Khai)   Female  7.5  66.04  60  53  113  4.8  1  16.51  13.9
Chakri (Sihal)   Male  8  68.58  72.6  85.7  118  4.8  1  15.24  12.7
Mean±SE   n = 3  6.66±1.09  57.57±9.76  61.47±6.04  59.76±13.4  107.8±7.8  4.63±0.1  1.00±0.0  16.51±0.73  14.36±1.12

Adult specimens

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Chakwal (Murreed)   Male  11  50.8  81  53  134  5.08  1.5  15.24  12.7
Islamabad (Lake View park)   Male  15.4  76.2  76.2  71  147.3  5.58  2  17.78  15.24
Chakwal (Jubairpur)   Male  19.3  66.04  84.3  71  137.48  6.35  2  18.28  15.24
Chakri (Mehra)   Female  20  68.58  83.3  53.8  137  8.12  2  17.78  14.7

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Mean±SE   n = 4  16.42±2.0  65.41±5.3  81.2±1.8  62.2±5  138.95±2.8  6.28±0.6  1.88±0.1  17.27±0.60  14.47±0.60

Chakri (Sihal)   Skeleton  –  –  50  30.48  80.4  2.5  –  –  –

Chakri (Sihal)   Skeleton  –  –  43  25.4  68.4  2.5  –  –  –
 N. Irshad et al.: Morpho-anatomy of Indian pangolin      3

up to 3.0 kg as juvenile and those weighing more than 3.0
kg as adults. On the basis of body weight, we categorized
Manis crassicaudata into three age classes: juveniles (  ≤  2.5
kg), sub-adults (  ≤  8 kg) and adults ( ≥ 8 kg). The body size
(head to body length) is also an important consideration
in this regard (Table 1). The body weights of the specimens
were recorded using a digital weighing balance, whereas
the external body measurements were taken using a meas-
uring tape. Tail length was recorded by upraising the
tail from its base. The size of scales, snout and ears were
measured using a digital Vernier caliper. The two dead
specimens were dissected to perform anatomical meas-
urements. The weight and length of the visceral organs,
namely, the tongue, heart, lungs, liver and kidney, as well
as the digestive and reproductive systems, were measured.
The average body weight of juveniles (n = 3), sub-
adults (n = 3) and adults (n = 4) was 1.61±0.41, 6.66±1.09 and
16.42±2 kg (Table 1). The average body girth was 25.40±2.9,
57.57±9.76 and 65.40±5.3 cm for juveniles, sub-adults and
adults, respectively (Table 1). The average body length was
22.40±3.29, 59.76±13.4 and 62.20±5.0 cm for juveniles, sub-
adults and adults, respectively. Similarly, the average tail
length varied among age classes: 22.40±3.29, 59.76±13.4
and 62.20±5.0  cm for juveniles, sub-adults and adults,
respectively (Table 1). In all three age classes, we found
that the fore limbs were larger than the hind limbs; the
limbs possessed five digits each, with the central digit
being the largest. The average snout length also differed
among the age classes (Table 1).
The total number of body scales among the age
classes also varied (Table 2). The largest and the maximum
number of scales were observed on the trunk region, fol-
lowed by those on the tail region. The scales on the fore
limbs were relatively larger than those on the hind limbs
(Figure 1). The number of scales on the head region dif-
fered significantly from that on the trunk (paired t-test;
p < 0.01, df = 8, t = -13.19) and tail regions (p < 0.05, df = 8,
t = -3.24) (Figure 1), and that on the fore limbs differed
significantly (p < 0.05, df = 7, t = 4.08) from that on the
hind limbs. The size of scales on the head, trunk and tail

Table 2 Number and size of scales present on different parts of the body of juvenile, sub-adult and adult specimens of the Indian pangolin
collected from the Potohar Plateau (n = 10).

Age classes  Scale number  Scale size (cm)

   
Head  Trunk  Tail  Total  Forelimb  Hind limb Head  Trunk  Tail

Juvenile   58.3±6.0  145±7.2  83.0±2.6  286±6.4  50.3±2.9  46.6±2.4  1.4±1.0  2.9±1.1  1.8±1.1
Sub-adult   63.0±10.5  128±9.9  79.6±4.8  271±24  48.5±0  40±0  0.4±0  3.05±0  1.5±0
Adult   63.5±6.6  146±7.4  84.7±6.9  294±11  51.7±1.7  47±2.9  2±0.4  5.3±0.6  4±1.3

Values presented as mean±SE.

Head (cm) Trunk (cm) Tail (cm)

10
9
8
7
Size of scales

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Khai Mureed Murreed Jubairpur Sihal Mehra Sihal Pamal Lake Malpur
view park

Chakwal Rawalpindi (Chakri) Jhelum Islamabad

Sites of capture

Figure 1 Relative size of scales (cm) present on different body regions of Indian pangolin. Values presented as mean±SE.

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4      N. Irshad et al.: Morpho-anatomy of Indian pangolin

Table 3 Absolute and relative weight and length of the body organs of two adult dead specimens of the Indian pangolin collected from the
Potohar Plateau.

Body organs   Specimen 1  Specimen 2

   
Absolute  Relative body  Absolute body  Relative body Absolute  Relative body  Absolute  Relative
weight (g) weight (%) length (cm) length (%) weight (g) weight (%) length (cm) length (%)

Gross body   7500  –  112.5  –  4500  –  91  –

Tongue   15  0.2  42.5  37  –  –  –  –
Liver   228  3.04  10  8.8  132  3  7  7.6
Spleen   22  0.29  8  7  17  0.37  5.5  6.04
Heart   43  0.5  5  4.4  26  0.57  4  4.39
Lungs   8  0.1  7  6.2  13  0.28  6  6.59
Kidney   44  0.58  5  4.4  35  0.7  4  4.3
Digestive tract   574  7.6  26  23  340  7.5  18  19.7
Reproductive tract   36  0.48  14  12.4  –  –  –  –

300
300
270

250
Absolute lengths (cm)

200

150

100

50 35
15 12.5 12
1 0.3 5 7 4 1.25
0
Stomach Small Large Ovary Oviduct Uterus Cervix Vagina
intestine intestine

Digestive system Reproductive system

Body organs

Figure 2 Relative size of different parts of the digestive and reproductive tracts of two dead specimens of Indian pangolin recovered as
roadkills from the Potohar Plateau.

regions also differed significantly (ANOVA Single factor;
p < 0.05, df = 2, F Crit. = 3.46).
Anatomical measurements for the two dead speci-
mens found as roadkills are given in Table 3 and Figure 2.
The tongue constituted 37% of the total body length of the
adult (specimen 1). The digestive tract comprised 7% of
the relative body weight and 19%–23% of the relative body
length, whereas the relative length of the reproductive
tract was 12% (Table 3). The length of the ovary, oviduct,
uterus, cervix and vagina were 0.3, 5, 7, 4 and 1.25 cm,
respectively. The two mammae were located in the ventral
thoracic region, and the length of each mammary gland
was 0.5 cm for the sub-adult female and 2 cm for the male
prepuce (juvenile).
The body mass was found to be positively corre-
lated with the body length (r2 = 0.89), snout (r2 = 0.93) and
ear (r2 = 0.94) (Figure 3). Similarly, the body length was
positively correlated with body girth (r2 = 0.85), snout
length (r2 =0.75) and ear length (r2 = 0.77) (Figure 4). The
body girth and snout length were also positively corre-
lated (r2 = 0.78).
In Pakistan, the Indian pangolin is patchily distributed
in sub-tropical thorn forests, dry deciduous scrub forests,
the Indus plains, etc. Despite its recently revised status as
“Endangered” (IUCN 2004), it is illegally hunted and used
as source of human food (in some countries, but not in
Pakistan except for a few five-star hotels and restaurants
in the capital city Islamabad where this species is served).

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 N. Irshad et al.: Morpho-anatomy of Indian pangolin      5

Body mass (kg) Total body length (cm)

A 180
160
147.3
140
134 137.48 137
120 118
Ascending level

113
100
92.4
80
63.5
60
58
40 41.6

20
4.5 7.5 19.3 20
0.78 2.05 2 11 15.4
0 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
-20

Body mass (kg) Snout length

B 35

30
Body mass (kg) and snout length (cm)

8.12

25 6.35

20 5.58
19.3 20
5.08 15.4
15
4.8
4.8
10 11
4.3
3.8 3.8 7.5 8
5
1.9 4.5
2.05
0.78 2
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Body mass (kg) Ear length

C 25

20
20
19.3
Ascending level

15 15.4

11
10
7.5
8
5
2.05 2 4.5 2 2 2
1 1 1 1.5
1 1
0 0.78
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Numbers of specimens of Indian pangolin

Figure 3 Strong positive correlation of body mass (kg) of Indian pangolin with its: A) body length (cm; r2 = 0.89); B) snout length (cm; r2 = 0.93);
and C) ear length (cm; r2 = 0.94) (n = 10). Values presented as mean±SE.

Moreover, its skin is used to make boots and shoes, and its pangolin is highly beneficial to man. The direct economic
body scales are highly prized in traditional Chinese medi- damage caused by termites both to agriculture and build-
cine. Because of its specialized feeding habits, Indian ings must amount to many hundred thousand rupees

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6      N. Irshad et al.: Morpho-anatomy of Indian pangolin

Total body length (cm) Body girth

A 180
160
147.3
140 137
134 137.48
120
118
Ascending level

113
100
92.4
80 76.2
68.58 68.58
60 63.5 66.04 66.04
58
50.8
40 41.6
38.1
30.48
20 25.4
20.32
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Total body length (cm) Snout length

B 180
160
147.3
140
134 137.48 137
120
118
Ascending level

113
100
92.4
80

60 63.5
58
40 41.6

20
3.8 4.8 4.8 5.08 5.58 6.35 8.12
1.9 3.8 4.3
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Total body length (cm) Ear length

C 180
160
147.3
140
134 137.48 137
120
Ascending level

118
113
100
92.4
80
60 63.5
58
40 41.6

20
0.75 1 1 1 1 1 1.5 2 2 2
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Numbers of specimens of Indian pangolin

Figure 4 Strong positive correlation of the body length (cm) of the Indian pangolin with its: A) body girth (cm; r2 = 0.85); B) snout length (cm;
r2 = 0.75); and C) ear length (cm; r2 = 0.77) (n = 10). Values presented as mean±SE.

annually in Pakistan. Unfortunately, Indian pangolin is data on the Indian pangolin and thus its ecology is poorly
often killed when encountered (Roberts 1997). With the known.
exception of a few anecdotal reports found on the Web In the present study, we measured some morpho-
and the information provided by Roberts (1997) about the metrical and anatomical characteristics of the Indian pan-
species in Pakistan, there is a dearth of relevant scientific golin collected from the Potohar Plateau. The maximum

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body weight was found to be up to 20 kg, body length up
to 147.3  cm and tail length up to 85.7 cm. Roberts (1997)
reported that females are generally smaller in build than
males, but documented that an exceptionally large male
killed on the road near Kohat weighed as much as 11.3 kg.
Minton (1981) also reported an adult male weighing as
much as 38 lbs (17 kg). In this context, the 20 kg male
reported herein is the heaviest to be documented.
The average head and body length was 58 cm, whereas
the average tail length was 46 cm with a ratio of 46:54. In
comparison, Prater (1971) and Roberts (1997) reported a
tail-to-body-length ratio of 70:30. The dorsal body surface,
as well as the fore and hind limbs, of the Indian pangolin
were covered over by hard scales. The number of scales
present on the head region differed significantly from that
on the trunk (p < 0.01) and tail (p < 0.05) regions. Similarly,
significant difference in the number of scales on fore and
hind limbs was found (p < 0.05). The scales on head, trunk
and tail regions were of different sizes, with those on trunk
being the largest. On average, size of the scales differed
significantly among the three body regions (p < 0.05). The
scales on head region were relatively smaller than those
on the trunk and tail regions, whereas those on fore limbs
were larger than those on hind limbs. These findings are
supported by Roberts (1997), but no other published sci-
entific data are available for comparison.
With regard to the anatomical characteristics of the
Indian pangolin, the tongue, which measured 42.5  cm in
length on average, constituted 37% of the total body length.
Roberts (1997) had described tongue of this species as cylin-
drical, long and narrow, that can protrude for 25.25 cm (10
in). The length of the tongue of other pangolin species is
70 cm in Manis gigantea (Illiger 1815) and 30–66.38 cm in
M. tricuspis (Rafinesque 1821) (Doran and Allbrook 1973,
Ozegbe et al. 2002). The ratio of weight of various organs
to that of body serves as a practical tool in nutritional and
toxicological studies of animals (Kaunitz et al. 1956, Krum-
holz 1956). These ratios have proved to be a useful param-
eter for studies involving laboratory animals (Latimer and
Sawin 1961), but they have not yet been documented for
any wild pangolin species. In the present study, we found
relative weight of the liver, spleen, heart, lungs and kidneys
as 3%, 0.29%–0.37%, 0.5%, 0.1%–0.2% and 0.58%–0.70%,
respectively, in relation to total body weight.
One young pangolin captured from the Chakri site
(Rawalpindi district) on December 3, 2011 weighed 0.78 kg
and measured 41  cm in length. Ogilvie and Bridgewa-
ter (1967) reported a baby Indian pangolin measuring
43.5  cm. Acharjyo and Misra (1972) documented a baby
pangolin measuring 30  cm in length and weighing
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N. Irshad et al.: Morpho-anatomy of Indian pangolin      7
0.23  kg. Roberts (1997) reported a newborn Indian pan-
golin weighing 0.45  kg. Lim and Peter (2007) recorded a
15-day old African pangolin (Manis javanica) measuring
30–35  cm long, which increased to 43  cm after one and
a half month. Menzies (1967) reported that a new born
Manis tricuspis weighed 0.1 kg at birth. Heath and Vander-
lip (1988) reported that two individuals of Manis pentada-
cytala weighed 0.09 kg and measured 20 cm in length at
the time of their birth.
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