Morphometric Relationships, Growth and Condition Factors of Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)

Simple Summary The pangolin is the only scaly mammal in the world. Among the eight extant pangolin species, the Chinese pangolin (CP) is most threatened with extinction. Thus, this species is categorized as "Critically Endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and listed under "Appendix I" of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Taiwan is a single Formosa Island where the population of CP has been increasing for the last decade due to continuous conservation initiatives. The presence of sufficient samples of CP that are adapted to distinct environmental conditions could provide valid morphometric results. However, the morphometric relationships, growth type, and condition factors have not yet been enumerated for any pangolin species including Chinese pangolin. The study included 282 rescued and rehabilitated individuals from central and southern Taiwan. Adult male and female pangolins measure between 75.2-103 cm and 66-114.9 cm from the snout to the tip of the tail and weigh between 4-7.6 kg and 3-5.8 kg, respectively. Adults also showed negative allometric growth (b < 3) as their length increased. However, the average relative condition factor (KR) was 1.02 +/- 0.16 and showed the majority of rescued adults in normal (59.7%) and good (39%) health conditions. Morphometric relationships and condition factors are crucial to quickly understanding the fitness and well-being of animals. Total length (cm) and bodyweight (g) of 282 (male = 167 and female = 115) pangolins were accounted for in this study which was received and rehabilitated in Pingtung Rescued Center, Pingtung and Endemic Species Research Institute, Nantou, Taiwan. The allometric equation; W = aL(b) was used to estimate the length-weight relationships where R-2 = 0.70, a = 0.61, and b = 1.98. The ratio of total body length and tail length was between 1.1 and 2.7. Pangolins exhibited negative allometric growth (b < 3) as their length increased. The average relative condition factor (K-R) was 1.04, indicating a state of good health for rescued individuals. However, Fulton condition factor (K-F) and K-R fluctuated in different months but was significantly heavier during the wet seasons. This study recommended to release healthy animals with K-F of 0.8 or higher back into the wild in order to increase their survival rate. The study, thus will be helpful to promote standardized guidelines for conducting physical measurements and understanding health status. Additionally, it will support the recovery of this threatened species by husbandry and diet management in ex-situ and in-situ conservation.