Dataset Information

Investigating the use of sensory information to detect and track prey by the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) with conservation in mind.

ABSTRACT: Pangolins are of conservation concern as one of the most heavily poached, yet least understood mammals. The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) in particular is a critically endangered species. Here, we investigate the behaviour of these pangolins, for the first time, using a battery of cognitive tasks based on a manipulation of available sensory information. In an object-choice task in which only one of two containers was baited with food, the pangolins were able to find the food with olfactory information alone (N?=?2), but not with visual or acoustic information alone (N?=?1). The single subject tested on all three domains was further tested on how he used smell to find food by providing him with an opportunity to find it from a controlled distance or by using scent trails as a guide. The results suggest that our subject may have the capacity to exploit scent trails left by prey which can be tracked to a final source, though we found no evidence to suggest that he had the ability to initiate hunts based on distant prey odors. Despite the small sample size, this is the first controlled experiment to investigate pangolin foraging behaviour and cognition, which may have implications for the future protection of pangolin habitat based on the location of prey species.

SUBMITTER: DiPaola JD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7300028 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Investigating the use of sensory information to detect and track prey by the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) with conservation in mind.

DiPaola Joshua D JD Yindee Marnoch M Plotnik Joshua M JM

Scientific reports 20200617 1

Pangolins are of conservation concern as one of the most heavily poached, yet least understood mammals. The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) in particular is a critically endangered species. Here, we investigate the behaviour of these pangolins, for the first time, using a battery of cognitive tasks based on a manipulation of available sensory information. In an object-choice task in which only one of two containers was baited with food, the pangolins were able to find the food with olfactory inf ...[more]

PMID: 32555311

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Project description:This study tracked and recorded the weight changes of 13 captive Sunda pangolin cubs from lactation to maturity to explored the appropriate weaning time and reveal the rules of its weight growth. SPSS 25.0 was used to build a cubic equation model to fit the body weight change rules of 4 individuals who nonvoluntarily ingested artificial feed (NIAF) at 127 days after birth and 5 individuals who voluntarily ingested artificial feed (VIAF) at 86-108 days after birth. The body weight of NIAF cubs aged 0-120 days and VIAF cubs aged 0-150 days were estimated according to the fitting model. An independent sample T-test was performed on the mean body weight of the two groups during the late lactation period. The results showed that at 105 days after birth, the body weight of the VIAF group was significantly higher than that of the NIAF group (P = 0.049), and the body weight of the VIAF group was extremely significantly higher than that of the NIAF group at 114 days (P = 0.008); The peak cumulative body weight of the NIAF cubs during lactation appeared around 130 days of age (n = 3); The mortality rate was 66.7% (n = 3) after about 150 days if the feed was continuously consumed nonvoluntarily. It was concluded that the milk secretion period of the mother is about 0-5 months after giving birth; the weaning period of the cubs should be 4-5 months after birth. If the cubs don't follow the mother to eat artificial feed for 3 months after birth, it can start be induced with artificial diet which adds termites, and the time point cannot be later than 130 days, otherwise it is not conducive to the survival of the cubs; When sexually mature, the body length and body weight of female cubs account for about 84% and 60% of the adult, respectively; the body maturity and body weight of female cubs tend to be stable about 15.3 months and 16.4 months, respectively. Finally, a special needle-shaped nipples and nursing patterns of female Sunda pangolins were also recorded in this study. These findings play an important role in guiding the nursing of captive Sunda pangolin cubs and other pangolin cubs. It is expected to improve the survival rate of the cubs by exploring the appropriate weaning time and the rules of weight growth. By scientifically planning the reproductive cycle of the female Sunda pangolins, our goal is to expand the population size and eventually release to the wild, meanwhile improving knowledge of this critically endangered species.

Project description:BackgroundAncylostoma species are hematophagous parasites that cause chronic hemorrhage in various animals and humans. Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, are mammals that live in soil environments where they are readily exposed to soil-borne parasitic nematodes. However, only a limited number of helminth species have been identified in this animal host so far.MethodsAncylostoma sp. was isolated from a wild pangolin, and the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Ancylostoma sp. was obtained by Illumina sequencing of total genomic DNA.ResultsThe circular complete mt genome that was assembled had a total length of 13,757 bp and comprised 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer ribosomal RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), two non-coding regions and one AT-rich region, but lacked the gene coding for ATPase subunit 8 (atp8). The overall AT content of the mt genome of Ancylostoma sp. was 76%, which is similar to that of other nematodes. The PCGs used two start codons (ATT and TTG) and three stop codons (TAA, TAG, and T). The nucleotide identity of the 12 PCGs ranged from 83.1% to 89.7% and had the highest sequence identity with Ancylostoma caninum among species in the Ancylostomatidae family. Also, the pangolin-derived Ancylostoma sp. lacked repeat sequences in the non-coding regions and in the unique sequence of the short non-coding regions, which differentiated it from other Ancylostoma species. In addition, phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA and mtDNA sequences revealed that the Ancylostoma sp. was positioned in a separate branch in the subfamily Ancylostomatinae along with other Ancylostoma species.ConclusionsThe Ancylostoma sp. isolated from a pangolin in this study was identified as a possible new Ancylostoma species. The identification of this Ancylostoma sp. from pangolin enriches our knowledge of the species in the Ancylostomatidae family and provides information that will lead to a better understanding of the taxonomy, diagnostics, and biology of hookworms.

Project description:Background and aimThe Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species (critically endangered) due to high levels of illegal trafficking for its products. Thailand is one of the habitats of this species, and it has become the main hub for its illegal trafficking. Rehabilitating these captive pangolins and reintroducing them back to the wild are challenging due to the limited knowledge on their diet, management, and diseases. Hemoparasites, including Babesia spp., can cause important protozoal infections in both domestic and wild animals, resulting in the failure of rehabilitation and conservation programs. However, Babesia spp. has not been reported in pangolins. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of Babesia spp. in the Sunda pangolin of Thailand.Materials and methodsA total of 128 confiscated Sunda pangolins from across different regions in Thailand were investigated. These pangolins had been admitted to a regional Wildlife Quarantine Center for rehabilitation before release in the forest. Routine physical examinations were conducted on the animals. We collected blood samples from each pangolin for hematological analysis and to detect Babesia spp. using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the partial 18s rRNA gene.ResultsBabesia-specific PCR detected 53 animals (41.4%) that were positive for Babesia spp. Blood smears were obtained from the positive samples and investigated under a light microscope to observe for trophozoites of Babesia spp. Examination of 40 PCR-positive and -negative samples found no significant differences between the hematological parameters of Babesia-positive and Babesia-negative samples. Eight PCR-positive samples were randomly selected and their DNA was sequenced. Seven and one of sequences match uncharacterized Babesia spp. with 100% and 99.2% similarity, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that our samples form a unique monophyletic clade along with other Babesia spp. detected in the wild. This clade is clearly separated from other Babesia spp. from small carnivores, ruminants, and rats.ConclusionOur results provide evidence of infection of Sunda pangolins in Thailand by Babesia spp. These pangolins originated from different regions and had not lived together before blood collection. Thus, we suggest that the uncharacterized Babesia spp. found in this study constitute a new group of pangolin-specific Babesia spp. The prevalence of the uncharacterized Babesia spp. was not correlated to pangolin health. Further studies are required to characterize the genomes and phenotypes, including the morphology and pathogenicity of these protozoa. Such information will be helpful for the conservation and health management of the Sunda pangolin.

Project description:Despite the discovery of several closely related viruses in bats, the direct evolutionary progenitor of SARS-CoV-2 has not yet been identified. In this study, we investigated potential animal sources of SARS-related coronaviruses using archived specimens from Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) and Chinese pangolins (Manis pentadactyla) confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, and from common palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) raised on wildlife farms in Viet Nam. A total of 696 pangolin and civet specimens were screened for the presence of viral RNA from five zoonotic viral families and from Sarbecoviruses using primers specifically designed for pangolin coronaviruses. We also performed a curated data collection of media reports of wildlife confiscation events involving pangolins in Viet Nam between January 2016 and December 2020, to illustrate the global pangolin supply chain in the context of Viet Nam where the trade confiscated pangolins were sampled for this study. All specimens from pangolins and civets sampled along the wildlife supply chains between February 2017 and July 2018, in Viet Nam and tested with conventional PCR assays designed to detect flavivirus, paramyxovirus, filovirus, coronavirus, and orthomyxovirus RNA were negative. Civet samples were also negative for Sarbecoviruses, but 12 specimens from seven live pangolins confiscated in Hung Yen province, northern Viet Nam, in 2018 were positive for Sarbecoviruses. Our phylogenetic trees based on two fragments of the RdRp gene revealed that the Sarbecoviruses identified in these pangolins were closely related to pangolin coronaviruses detected in pangolins confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, China. Our curated data collection of media reports of wildlife confiscation events involving pangolins in Viet Nam between January 2016 and December 2020, reflected what is known about pangolin trafficking globally. Pangolins confiscated in Viet Nam were largely in transit, moving toward downstream consumers in China. Confiscations included pangolin scales sourced originally from Africa (and African species of pangolins), or pangolin carcasses and live pangolins native to Southeast Asia (predominately the Sunda pangolin) sourced from neighboring range countries and moving through Viet Nam toward provinces bordering China.

Dataset Information

Investigating the use of sensory information to detect and track prey by the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) with conservation in mind.

Publications

Investigating the use of sensory information to detect and track prey by the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) with conservation in mind.

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