Aspects of digestive anatomy, feed intake and digestion in the Chinese pangolin (<i>Manis pentadactyla</i>) at Taipei zoo

Lin, Mei Fong; Chang, Chi-Yen; Yang, Ci Wen; Dierenfeld, Ellen S.

doi:10.1002/zoo.21212

Cited by 34 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Diets which contained a higher amount of chitin may have increased apparent organic matter digestibility due to the larger food mean retention time associated with more chitinous diets (Lin, Chang, Yang, & Dierenfeld, 2015). A similar observation made with soil addition by Chin et al (2009).…”

Section: Other Factors To Considermentioning

confidence: 53%

“…In addition, perhaps the Chinese pangolins were simply fed too large of a quantity, which may have no reflection on the nutritional content of their diets. Diets which contained a higher amount of chitin may have increased apparent organic matter digestibility due to the larger food mean retention time associated with more chitinous diets (Lin, Chang, Yang, & Dierenfeld, ). A similar observation made with soil addition by Chin et al ().…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Feeding Asian pangolins: An assessment of current diets fed in institutions worldwide

Cabana¹,

Plowman

Nguyen

et al. 2017

Zoo Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pangolins are ant specialists which are under intense threat from the illegal wildlife trade. Nutrition has notoriously been their downfall in captivity and is still an issue in regards to rescue and rehabilitation. We analyzed the nutrient content of diets used by institutions that are successfully keeping Asian pangolins and to assess the variety of the ingredients and nutrients, compared these with the nutritional requirements of potential nutritional model species. We performed intake studies at five institutions and also had data from three other institutions. We also analyzed five different wild food items to use as a proxy of wild diet. We observed two categories of captive diets: those mostly or completely composed of insects and those high in commercial feeds or animal meat. Nutrient values were broad and there was no clear rule. The non-protein energy to protein energy ratio of the diets were much higher than the wild food items, more so for those which receive less insects. The average contribution of carbohydrate, fat and protein energy were also further away from the wild samples the less insects they contained. The previously suggested nutritional model for pangolins is the domestic dog which is supported by our relatively large nutrient ranges of apparently successful diets, however due to their highly carnivorous nature; the upper most nutrient intake data are not consistent with this and favor the feline nutrient recommendations. We are unable to render a conclusion of what model is more appropriate based on our data collected.

show abstract

Section: Other Factors To Considermentioning

confidence: 53%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding Asian pangolins: An assessment of current diets fed in institutions worldwide

Cabana¹,

Plowman

Nguyen

et al. 2017

Zoo Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Pangolins do produce copious amounts of viscous saliva that is thought to increase the adherence of ants and termites to the tongue during feeding (Doran & Allbrook, 1973). Interestingly, anatomical description of the salivary glands of the pangolin has indicated that both the sublingual and submandibular glands are large, whereas the parotid gland is quite small (Doran & Allbrook, 1973;Lin, Chang, Yang, & Dierenfeld, 2015). The central autonomic control of the sublingual and submandibular glands arises from the superior salivatory nucleus (pVII), while that of the parotid gland arises from the inferior salivatory nucleus (pIX) (e.g., Biljani & Keswani, 2004;Chibuzo & Cummings, 1980;Rezek et al, 2008;Wang, 1943;Way, 1981).…”

Section: The Brainstem Auditory System Of the Tree Pangolinmentioning

confidence: 99%

The brain of the tree pangolin (Manis tricuspis). VI. The brainstem and cerebellum

Imam

Bhagwandin

Ajao

et al. 2019

J of Comparative Neurology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The brainstem (midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata) and cerebellum (diencephalic prosomere 1 through to rhombomere 11) play central roles in the processing of sensorimotor information, autonomic activity, levels of awareness and the control of functions external to the conscious cognitive world of mammals. As such, comparative analyses of these structures, especially the understanding of specializations or reductions of structures with functions that have been elucidated in commonly studied mammalian species, can provide crucial information for our understanding of the behavior of less commonly studied species, like pangolins. In the broadest sense, the nuclear complexes and subdivisions of nuclear complexes, the topographical arrangement, the neuronal chemistry, and fiber pathways of the tree pangolin conform to that typically observed across more commonly studied mammalian species. Despite this, variations in regions associated with the locus coeruleus complex, auditory system, and motor, neuromodulatory and autonomic systems involved in feeding, were observed in the current study. While we have previously detailed the unusual locus coeruleus complex of the tree pangolin, the superior olivary nuclear complex of the auditory system, while not exhibiting additional nuclei or having an altered organization, this nuclear complex, particularly the lateral superior olivary nucleus and nucleus of the trapezoid body, shows architectonic refinement. The cephalic decussation of the pyramidal tract, an enlarged hypoglossal nucleus, an additional subdivision of the serotonergic raphe obscurus nucleus, and the expansion of the superior salivatory nucleus, all indicate neuronal specializations related to the myrmecophagous diet of the pangolins.

show abstract

“…In captivity, replicating the diet of free‐ranging echidnas is problematic, because of difficulties providing adequate quantities of ants and termites for food. Captive diets used for echidnas, and for other myrmecophagous species, often include some of the following: raw meat, eggs, bran, vegetable oil, wheat germ and cat or dog food mixed together with water and vitamin and mineral supplements [Jackson, ; Augee et al, ; Gull et al, ; Lin et al, ]. Generally the mixture is presented as slurry to cater for the specialized anatomy of the echidna bill.…”

Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some captive myrmecophages, including Chinese pangolins ( Manis pentadactyla ) and giant anteaters ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ), have been transitioned to new manufactured diets in captivity with mixed success [Gull et al, ; Lin et al, ]. The aims of the study were to: (1) transition captive short‐beaked echidnas over to a new insectivore diet; (2) determine digestibility and palatability of the new manufactured diet; (3) test the efficacy of using fiber instead of soil in the diet.…”

Section: Statement Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digestibility of a new diet for captive short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) are myrmecophages, or ant and termite insectivore specialists, and replicating their exact diet in captivity is problematic. Diets for captive animals often incorporate raw meat, eggs and cat food mixed together with water, and vitamin and mineral supplements. These diets have promoted a number of health problems in captive echidnas, such as gastritis, cystitis, gut impaction, obesity, and diarrhea. A manufactured diet was designed and three echidnas from two zoos were transitioned onto this diet to assess the acceptability and digestibility of this diet for echidnas. The new "test" diet was readily accepted by the echidnas with a 1 week transition period. Daily digestible energy intake was 280 kJ kg d , similar to another myrmecophagous species. Digestibility values were above 74% for all macronutrients. It was determined that this diet was an acceptable replacement for the previous diets and it was decided that the remaining echidnas at both institutions would be transitioned to the new diet. The diet will also be used for wild echidnas being rehabilitated in the zoo hospitals prior to release and commercially available within Australia. Further data are being collected to assess the use of this diet for seasonal weight management, transitioning hand-reared puggles and effects on gastrointestinal tract health. Zoo Biol. 36:56-61, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

show abstract

Aspects of digestive anatomy, feed intake and digestion in the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) at Taipei zoo

Cited by 34 publications

References 19 publications

Feeding Asian pangolins: An assessment of current diets fed in institutions worldwide

Feeding Asian pangolins: An assessment of current diets fed in institutions worldwide

The brain of the tree pangolin (Manis tricuspis). VI. The brainstem and cerebellum

Digestibility of a new diet for captive short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About