Temminck's ground pangolin () is one of four species of pangolin, endemic to Africa. Two of the African pangolin species are listed as vulnerable and two are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species due to their ongoing exploitation for traditional medicine and bushmeat. In this study, we developed 30 species-specific short-tandem repeats (STRs) in Temminck's ground pangolin using next-generation sequencing. The markers were also optimized for crossamplification in other African species. All the markers amplified successfully in Temminck's ground pangolin with allelic polymorphisms observed in 87% of the markers in giant pangolin () whereas 60% of the markers were amplified polymorphic loci in both whitebellied pangolin () and black-bellied pangolin (). Analysis of diversity estimates showed moderate levels of variability in Temminck's ground pangolin ( = 5; = 0.559), giant pangolin ( = 4.909; = 0.514) and white-bellied pangolin (= 2.686; = 0.541) with lower values being observed in black-bellied pangolin ( = 3; = 0.242). This study provides data of the first available STR markers which was amplified in all four African pangolin species that can now be used in conservation genetic and evolutionary aspects of population histories.
Comparatively little is known about the distribution and ecology of Aardvark () and Temminck's Ground Pangolin (). Both are elusive species that are normally nocturnal, solitary, and fossorial. Formally collected records have been used to map the distribution of these species, and social media records provide a tool to gather information on their distribution and ecology.
The pangolin (Manidae family) is the world's most trafficked animal, yet very little is known about its physiology and metabolism primarily due to its inconspicuous and solitary nature. Skeletal muscle samples from the Vastus lateralis were collected postmortem from a single female Temminck's ground pangolin (Manis temminckii). Samples were analyzed for fiber type composition, fiber size and myosin heavy chain isoform content.
Department of Paraclinical Sciences and Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Pangolins are the world's most trafficked non-human mammals. A significant number of Temminck's pangolins () are presented for veterinary care and rehabilitation in southern Africa. Little is known about the physiology and normal health of this species, making diagnosis and medical management difficult.
Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Biodiversity Research Services, National Zoological Gardens, South Africa; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa.
Pangolins are the most trafficked wild mammals, with their scales in high demand. Scales are often the only part of the animal confiscated from the trade, but they represent accessible material for forensic investigations, including for sexing. This study aimed to develop a sexing tool for Temminck's pangolin, using scales for hormone quantification.
The study is intended to deliver the incidence of heavy metals in the feathers of shorebirds from two important Central Asian Flyway (CAF) migratory shorebirds wintering sites such as the Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary (PWLS) and Pichavaram Mangrove Forest (PMF), India. Feathers of fifteen species of shorebirds and seven different metals viz., Cu, Cr, Co, Pb, Hg, Ni and Zn were analyzed.
