Researchers confirm new pangolin species Manis aurita in Nepal and Northern India
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Researchers have confirmed a previously unrecognized Asian pangolin species, Manis aurita, living in Nepal and Northern India. The findings, published in Communications Biology, clarify pangolin species relationships and could help authorities identify where illegally traded pangolins are hunted. The confirmation marks the culmination of more than five years of research that began in Nepal.
Key Facts
- Manis aurita was first described in 1836 but later reclassified as a subspecies of the Chinese pangolin.
- The study was published in Communications Biology and involved researchers from the Field Museum and Nepal Engineering College.
- Pangolins are considered the most highly trafficked mammals in the world, with many species at serious risk of extinction.
- In 2025, another research team named the Himalayan pangolin Manis indoburmanica, or the Indo-Burmese pangolin.
Species Confirmation
Researchers confirmed that Manis aurita, a pangolin species described in 1836, is a valid species living in Nepal and Northern India. The findings were published in Communications Biology and clarify how different pangolin species are related, where they live, and how they can be distinguished. Anderson Feijó, Negaunee Assistant Curator of Mammals at the Field Museum, said the confirmation can help protect endangered pangolins. Narayan Koju of Nepal Engineering College stated the research provides a scientific basis for conservation planning and wildlife forensics.
Taxonomic History
In 2025, another research team determined that animals previously grouped as Chinese pangolins represented two species: one in China and one in the Himalayan foothills. The mountain-dwelling form was named Manis indoburmanica, or the Indo-Burmese pangolin. Scientific naming follows a rule of priority, so the earliest valid name takes precedence. Feijó and colleagues encountered records of Manis aurita, described in 1836, which had been reclassified as a subspecies of the Chinese pangolin.
1 source
Researchers confirm new pangolin species Manis aurita in Nepal and Northern India
