Scientists at the University of California at Los Angeles found that the female pangolin of the white-bellied lizard species Manis tricuspis has 114 chromosomes in its cells. This is more than any other mammal, with the exception of the Bolivian bristly rat, which has 118. This is reported in an article published in the journal Chromosome Research.

For the first time, researchers have reconstructed the genomes of three species of mammals of the order Pholidota (pangolins, or lizards) - the Javanese pangolin, the Chinese pangolin and the white-bellied pangolin. The latter turned out to be the champion in the number of chromosomes among the so-called laurasiatherians, that is, placental mammals, whose common ancestor lived on the Laurasia supercontinent.

Although females have 114 chromosomes in their cells, males have 113. At the same time, other types of pangolins have the same number. Genetic analysis also revealed a reduction in genome-wide heterozygosity, indicating genetic diversity within a population compared to Chinese and Javanese pangolins. This means that white-bellied pangolins have experienced two moderate reductions in effective population size, that is, the number of individuals that contribute to the survival of the species.

The results of the study reveal a unique feature of pangolin genome biology and highlight the need for further research on these unique and endangered mammals. Genetic analysis can help track and map poaching activity to aid species conservation.