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UPSC Prelims 2004 · Environment · Species Watch
Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Toothless mammals such as pangolins are not found in India
- Gibbon is the only ape found in India.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (b) 2 only
Pangolins are found in India; the gibbon is India’s only ape.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ WRONG India has two pangolins: the Indian pangolin and the Chinese pangolin (NE).
2. ✓ CORRECT The hoolock gibbon of the North-East is India’s only ape.
The idea
A pangolin is a mammal covered in hard, overlapping scales. It has no teeth; it tears open ant and termite nests with its claws and licks the insects up with a very long, sticky tongue. When threatened it rolls into a ball.
Rolls into a ball when afraid → Safe from a tiger → But a poacher just picks it up → Scales and meat are smuggled → Most trafficked wild mammal in the world
Also know
India has the Indian pangolin (Endangered) and, in the North-East, the Chinese pangolin (Critically Endangered). All pangolins are in CITES Appendix I, which bans commercial trade. Their scales are made of keratin, the material of our nails.
🔒 India: 2 pangolins (Schedule I) · 1 ape (hoolock gibbon).