Paleontologists working in the Shivalik Foothills of Himachal Pradesh have discovered a nearly complete fossilized skeleton of a giant prehistoric scaly anteater, belonging to a new genus named Proto-Manis. Dating back 10 million years to the Miocene epoch, the creature was nearly six feet long and possessed massive claws for digging into subterranean insect colonies. This find provides a missing link in the evolution of pangolins in Asia.
The Shivalik range continues to be one of the world's most productive regions for understanding the diversification of mammals. This discovery highlights the rich prehistoric biodiversity of the Indian subcontinent and its role as a crucial evolutionary corridor during the Miocene.