What does myremechophagus means a feed on insects c

7. What does Myremechophagus means
a. Feed on Insects c. Feeds on Termites
b. Feeds on ants and termites d. None of the above
8. Gestation period of Pangolin is
b.5-6 months
9. Pangolin is believed to live upto
b.18 years
10. Pangolins are greatly poached for its ....

There are 208 species of mammals, including human, in Nepal. Pangolin ( Manis species ) is one
of the mammalian species found in Nepal. Locally they are known by various names:
• In Nepali language = Salak
• Newari = Kaynaya
• Tamang = Kose
• In the hilly area of Nepal = Hilemaccha
• Limbu = Padasekh
Two species of pangolins (scaly ant eater) are found in Nepal:
1. Manis crassicaudata (Indian pangolin), and
2. Manis pentadactyla ( Chinese pangolin)
• In India, these same two species of pangolins are found and are known by the various
local names eg Bajra kit, Bajra kapta, suraj mukhi etc.
• In Nepal, these species are known by Salak.
• Both species are endangered.
• They are hunted for their flesh and scales.
• Scales are considered having medicinal and magical properties. A brief description about
those two species is presented below:
1. Manis crasscaudata
English Name: Indian Pangolin, thick-tailed pangolin
Nepali Name: Tame Salak
Conservation status:
• This species is listed as Endangered because it
is subject to hunting and increasing levels of
poaching, principally for its meat and scales,
both for local use and for illicit international
trade in scales, which has also occurred
historically.
Indian Pangolin-Photo courtesy:
ecoindia.com/gifs/indian-pangolin.jpg

• Available evidence suggests this trade is destined for East Asia where scales are used in
traditional medicines.
• It is suspected populations of this species will fall by at least 50% in the next 21 years
Range description:
• This species is distributed in South Asia from parts of eastern Pakistan through much of
India south of the Himalayas (excluding northeastern portions of the country), Southern
Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
• There are historical records of this species in southwest China and there have been
dubious records in Myanmar
• This species is very locally distributed in Pakistan
• In India, this species is widely distributed from the plains and lower hills south of the
Himalayas to extreme southern India. There are historical records from Kerala and
Kanyakumari; Tamil Nadu; Delhi; Madhya Pradesh; Karnataka; West Bengal; Goa;
Gujarat; Rajasthan; Bihar; and other 6 states of India.
• This species is distributed in lowland areas of southern and western Nepal, below 500
meters elevation, being found in Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Banke National Park
and Bardia National Park in the west, and Chitwan National Park and Parsa Wildlife
Reserve in the south.