Specific mating behavior of Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) in captivity

Abstract

Pangolin is a mysterious animal in the Family Pholidota, Mammalia. Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) is one of eight existing species and is listed in Manis. With the number of wild pangolins (Manis spp.) rapidly decreasing, captive breeding has become an important way to protect them from extinction. The research on mating behavior of pangolins is an important content to understand its reproductive characteristics and develop breeding management. From 2016 to 2022, a total of 360 mating events were observed in six males and 24 females through closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance. The results show that males do not engage in complex courtship behavior before mating. In addition, we found that male pangolins adopted a ventrolateral mating position. Once males selected the side (left/right) of the female pangolin from which to approach to mate, they usually remained on the same side for subsequent mating, suggesting that male pangolins may have a preference in mating position. Finally, all mating events were observed at 1.72 ± 1.47 (n = 83, Mean ± SD) days after cohabitation and adjustment time before mating (from the male touching the female to intromission) took 4.98 ± 3.86 mins (n = 323). During mating, males hugged females and remained still for 47.37 ± 10.08 seconds (n = 323), which is the ejaculation and post-ejaculation quiescent time. Remarkably, we observed for the first time two peak mating times, 19:00 to 22:00 and 1:00 to 3:00, suggesting that they may have a preference for mating times. This study provides new insight into the mating behavior of M. javanica and contributes to the development of scientific conservation measures to improve the reproductive capacity of M. javanica.

Evolution and conservation genetics of pangolins

“…2016), while the thick cornified, stratified squamous epithelium lining of the stomach was the result of expression patterns and functional conversion of epidermal differentiation complex genes (Yan et al. 2023), with large‐scale variation and gene loss events playing important roles in the evolution of cornified membranes.…”

“…Recently, Yan et al. (2023) conducted a genome analysis to identify the gene expansions and a transcriptome analysis to identify the upregulation of glycine‐tyrosine keratin‐associated proteins (HGT‐KRTAPs), providing the molecular evidence for pangolin scale formation and implicating the role of HGT‐KRTAPs in the formation of keratinous scales rather than the aforementioned KRTs.…”

“…2023; Yan et al. 2023), white‐bellied pangolin (Zoonomia 2020; Houck et al. 2023), and giant pangolin (Heighton et al.…”

Sperm collection and characteristics analysis of the critically endangered Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)

“…Therefore, we surmised that the ejaculation mode of male Chinese pangolin may be a small amount in multiple segments. In addition, Chinese pangolins can mate throughout the year under captive conditions, and this mating pattern also exists in Malayan pangolin ( Yan et al. , 2023 a).…”

“…, 2016 ). The Malayan pangolin, which is in the same family, exhibits the same reproductive behaviour in long-term captive breeding ( Yan et al. , 2023 b).…”