Long-tailed Pangolin (Manis tetradactyla)
Also known as the black-bellied pangolin or ipi, the long-tailed pangolin is a species of tree-pangolin native to the rain forests of Sub-Saharan Africa. Noted for its extremely long prehensile tail the long-tailed pangolin is primarily arboreal and spends most of its life in the trees, surprisingly it has been also been observed descending from the trees to rivers where they become quite competent swimmers. The long-tailed pangolin’s tail can grow up to twice the pangolin’s body at 30 in and has an astounding 46-7 vertebrae, it is also very strong and can hold the pangolins weight when it is dangling. Unlike other pangolins which are nocturnal the long-tailed pangolin is diurnal and hunts during the day for ant nests located in trees, using its long tongue to flick them into its mouth.
Phylogeny
Animalia-Chordata-Mammalia-Pholidata-Manidae-Manis-tetradactyla
Tags:
#pangolin #adorable #the more you know
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