Manis Mysteria : Species Of Pangolins
Adding to the eight known species of pangolins, scientists recently discovered a ninth variety, tentatively named “Manis mysteria”.
- Manis Mysteria is a newly discovered Pangolin species.
- The newly identified pangolin species emerged from a detailed study of scales seized in China’s Yunnan province in 2015 and 2019.
- This new species is believed to have diverged from its Philippine and Malayan relatives approximately five million years ago.
- Pangolins are mammals known for their distinctive appearance and protective scales.
- They are often referred to as “scaly anteaters” due to their characteristic scales and their diet, which primarily consists of ants and termites.
- Pangolins are found in parts of Africa and Asia and are known for their elusive nature and status as the most trafficked mammals in the world.
- All pangolin species are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
- The Indian pangolin, also called thick-tailed pangolin, is classified as Endangered under the IUCN Red List.
