ORDER EDENTATA: EDENTATES 187 



This species occurs in apparently larger numbers than the other 

 African pangolins. 



It is "an arboreal species with a tail constituting over half the 

 total length. The characters of the tail tip and the fore limbs are 

 like those of Manis longicaudatus. The scales, however, are small 

 and numerous, brown, and during mid-life, tricuspid. The post- 

 scapulars are not enlarged." Under parts grayish white. In young 

 animals "the margins of the scales are even, but with ensuing wear 

 . . . the scales become sharply dentate, or, usually later, tridentate." 

 In old age the animals have "cuspless, worn, elongate scales." In 

 half-grown and mature animals the unsealed parts of the skin are 

 covered with hair, attaining a length of 20 mm. Longitudinal rows 

 of scales, 21-25; marginal caudal scales, 35-40. Total length, up to 

 1,027 mm.; tail, 607 mm. (Hatt, 19346, pp. 655-658.) 



This pangolin is not confined to the Upper and Lower Guinea 

 Forest Districts but ranges southward into the Southern Congo 

 Savanna District and eastward into the Uganda-Unyoro Savanna 

 District of Chapin (1932, p. 90) and of Bowen (1933, pp. 256, 258). 

 Hatt (1934b, p. 656) records specimens from Liberia, the Ivory 

 Coast, Cameroons, Fernando Po, Gabun, the lower Congo, Kasai 

 district, and central Angola. According to Matschie (1894a, p. 6), 

 the range extends west to Gambia, and Jentink (1882, p. 208) has 

 a record from Sierra Leone. 



Liberia. The species appears to be distributed over the entire 

 region. Specimens are recorded from Buluma, Schieffelinsville, 

 Junk River, Hill-town, and Farmington River. The animal can be 

 tamed and kept a long time in houses, where it runs free and preys 

 upon ants, cockroaches, and other troublesome insects. (Buttikofer, 

 in Jentink, 1888, p. 57.) 



Allen and Coolidge (1930, vol. 2, p. 606) record "a native-made 

 skin bought at Since." 



Gold Coast. Hayman (1936, p. 937) records specimens from 

 Goaso and Mampong. 



The species is found through much of the forest country, but is 

 doubtless much less common now than formerly (Assistant Con- 

 servator of Forests, Gold Coast, in litt., July 22, 1937) . 



Fernando Po. Fraser (1848, text to pi. 28) records the species 

 from this island, where "the flesh is said to be exceeding good eating, 

 and is in great request among the natives." 



Gabun. This pangolin is confined to the great forest. Although 

 legally protected, it is actively hunted by the forest natives, who 

 capture great quantities. To prevent this is difficult, for the animal 

 is taken in trigger traps set for small game. The real safeguard 

 would be the prohibition of this type of trap; but those who know 



