THE SCALY ANT-EATER OR PANGOLIN 



(Manis te??iminckt) 

 Kwara of Basutos ; Khaaka of Bechuanas. 



The nearest relative of the Aard Vark in South 

 Africa is a curious prehistoric-looking animal 

 known as the Scaly Ant-Eater or Pangolin {Manis 

 temmincki) . It is altogether unlike its cousin for, 

 instead of a tough, hairy skin, this curious 

 creature is covered with broad, overlapping, 

 horny scales of a dark brown colour, which ate 

 paler at the edges and tips. It is quite toothless, 

 as are all the other species of Pangolins in South 

 America and Asia. 



This remarkable looking mammal, which is curi- 

 ously like a reptile in appearance, is found in termite 

 and ant-infested districts, from the Orange River 

 northwards through the Free State, Transvaal, 

 Bechuanaland, Kalahari, South-West Africa and 

 Rhodesia. Beyond the Zoological boundaries of 

 South Africa it extends to South Angola, Nyassa- 

 land, and East Africa to Somaliland. 



The Scaly Ant-Eater subsists chiefly on ants and 

 termites. It breaks into the hills of the latter 

 with its strongly armed fore-feet and collects the 

 termites on its long, sticky tongue. This diet 



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