Astounding Discovery: New Pangolin Species Unveiled in Arunachal, Igniting Global Excitement
ITANAGAR, 9 Jan: A groundbreaking discovery by scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has unveiled a new pangolin species, the Indo-Burmese pangolin (Manis indoburmanica), in Arunachal Pradesh, representing a genetic departure from the Chinese and Indian pangolins typically found in India. Classified as a distinct phylogenetic species, the Indo-Burmese pangolin diverges by 3.8% at the genome level from the Chinese pangolin. According to ZSI’s findings, this species split from the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) approximately 3.4 million years ago, and these findings are published in the esteemed journal Mammalian Biology, backed by the German Society for Mammalian Biology.
The discovery, made in March 2024 in Silluk village in East Siang district by ZSI’s Lenrik Konchok Wangmo, involved sampling and photographing the creature, which was later released safely in Daying Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary. Dr. Mukesh Thakur from ZSI elaborated that the species likely evolved in isolation during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs due to climatic and geological shifts. Its distribution includes parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and possibly Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar. The species resides at altitudes of 180 to 1830 meters and possesses distinctive dark brown and olive scales with pinkish facial coloring.
This discovery is crucial as pangolins are among the most trafficked mammals worldwide, necessitating urgent conservation efforts. Dr. Thakur emphasized the species’ vulnerability and the need for international collaborative measures. ZSI Director Dr. Dhriti Banerjee praised the team’s work, highlighting the role of scientific research in biodiversity conservation. The Indo-Burmese pangolin’s discovery not only enriches biological understanding but also emphasizes the imperative of habitat protection against threats like poaching. With its habitat spread spanning East Siang to Assam’s Kokrajhar district, safeguarding this unique species is vital for maintaining the ecological balance of the Indo-Burma region.
Original Source: https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2025/01/10/new-pangolin-species-discovered-in-arunachal/
Category : State News
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Publish Date: 2025-01-10 00:33:00
