Researchers from Guangdong Academy of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University and their colleagues have assembled chromosome-scale genomes for two critically endangered pangolin species: the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) and the Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica).
The distribution area and sampling sites of the Chinese and Malayan pangolins. Image credit: Lan et al., doi: 10.1093/gigascience/giaf003.
The pangolin is a living fossil with many unique biological characteristics, such as overlapping keratin scales covering the body, a specialized diet, a long and muscular tongue, a sensitive olfactory system, and burrowing ability.
Locals across its distribution areas have…