Family Manidae: 7 species in the genus Manis. Pangolins are also
known as scaly anteaters or Old World anteaters. Living members
of the family Manidae include 4 species in Africa and 3 species
in India, South China and South East Asia including Malaya and
the islands reaching eastwards. Once, 40 million years ago,
pangolins lived in Europe. Pangolins are now placed in the clade
Laurasiatheria; their nearest relations are believed to be
carnivores. Pangolins have small conical heads, reduced or
absent outer ears, elongate bodies tapering to a stout tail.
They are easily recognised by the coats of overlapping scales
which protect their heads, bodies and the outer surfaces of
their limbs and tails. They curl up in a ball when alarmed to
protect their scale-less, hairy undersides. The name pangolin
means ‘one who rolls up’ in Malay. Pangolins’ limbs are short
terminating in five clawed digits; the three middle claws on the
fore feet are long and curved. The claws are used to dig for
food. Their tails are used as