| Ruddy mongoose | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Herpestidae |
| Genus: | Urva |
| Species: | U. smithii |
| Binomial name | |
| Urva smithii (Gray, 1837) | |
 | |
| Ruddy mongoose range | |
| Synonyms | |
Herpestes smithii | |
The ruddy mongoose (Urva smithii) is a mongoose species native to hill forests in India and Sri Lanka. [1]
The ruddy mongoose's fur is brownish and coarse, long in hindquarters, but short in other parts of the body. Its head to body length is 40–45 cm (16–18 in) with a 36 cm (14 in) long tail. Males are larger and heavier than females with a weight of 2.2 kg (4.9 lb); females weigh about 1.2 kg (2.6 lb). Tail constitute about 75–90 % of body length. It is distinguished by the Indian grey mongoose by its slightly larger size and jet black-tipped tail. [2]
The ruddy mongoose is mainly a forest-living animal and prefers more secluded areas. It has also been recorded in secluded paddy fields and in comparatively open fields. [3]
Herpestes smithii was the scientific name proposed by John Edward Gray in 1837 for a zoological specimen in the collection of the British Museum Natural History. [4] All Asian mongooses are now thought to belong in the genus Urva. [5]
Subspecies: [6]
It usually carries its black tipped tail tip curved upward which is visible from a distance. Like other mongooses, it hunts by day and by night, [3] and feeds on birds, rat snakes, land monitors, rodents and snails. Generally a solitary animal, rarely can be seen in pairs during mating season. However, mother and pup family groups consisting about five animals have been observed. [2]
It is found in thick jungles, forest edges near paddy fields and tea estates. However, withdraw quickly in a crevice or underneath a rock shelf during human confrontation. When cornered, they fight fearlessly with loud and shrill cries. [2]
In Sri Lanka this animal is usually regarded as an unlikable animal and a pest. The golden palm civet (Paradoxurus zeylonensis), altogether a different species endemic to Sri Lanka, is also called hotambuwa due to similar appearance and coloration.
A mongoose is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae. This family is currently split into two subfamilies, the Herpestinae and the Mungotinae. The Herpestinae comprises 23 living species that are native to southern Europe, Africa and Asia, whereas the Mungotinae comprises 11 species native to Africa. The Herpestidae originated about 21.8 ± 3.6 million years ago in the Early Miocene and genetically diverged into two main genetic lineages between 19.1 and 18.5 ± 3.5 million years ago.
The Indian pangolin, also called thick-tailed pangolin and scaly anteater is a pangolin native to the Indian subcontinent. Like other pangolins, it has large, overlapping scales on its body which act as armour. The colour of its scales varies depending on the colour of the earth in its surroundings. It can also curl itself into a ball as self-defence against predators such as the tiger. It is an insectivore feeding on ants and termites, digging them out of mounds and logs using its long claws, which are as long as its fore limbs. It is nocturnal and rests in deep burrows during the day.
The stripe-necked mongoose is a mongoose species native to forests and shrublands from southern India to Sri Lanka.
The crab-eating mongoose is a mongoose species ranging from the northeastern Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia to southern China and Taiwan. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
The golden palm civet is a viverrid endemic to Sri Lanka. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Its distribution is severely fragmented, and the extent and quality of its habitat in Sri Lanka's hill regions are declining.
Jackson's mongoose is a mongoose species native to montane forests in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It appears to be rare and has been classified as Near Threatened since 2008.
The short-tailed mongoose is a mongoose species native to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. It inhabits evergreen forest and rural gardens from sea level to an elevation of 1,500 m (4,900 ft). It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List since 2008.
The Indian grey mongoose or Asian grey mongoose is a mongoose species native to the Indian subcontinent and West Asia. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
The Indian brown mongoose or brown mongoose is a mongoose species native to the Western Ghats in India and the western coast in Sri Lanka and introduced to Fiji. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.
The Javan mongoose is a mongoose species native to Southeast Asia.
The white-tailed mongoose is a species in the mongoose family Herpestidae. It is the only member of the genus Ichneumia.
The collared mongoose is a mongoose species native to Borneo and Sumatra; its presence in the Philippines is uncertain. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Herpestes is a genus within the mongoose family Herpestidae. Several species in the family are known as slender mongooses. It is the type genus of the family, and comprises 5-6 living species, each with several subspecies. Fossil remains of three prehistoric species were excavated in France, and described in 1853.
The small Indian mongoose is a mongoose species native to Iraq and northern South Asia; it has also been introduced to several Caribbean and Pacific islands.
The dusky striped squirrel is a species of small squirrel from Sri Lanka that is largely confined to rainforests in the southwestern "wet zone" with higher rainfall than the rest of the island. It was formerly regarded as a subspecies of Funambulus sublineatus from India, at which point the English name of the "combined species" also was dusky striped squirrel. It is known as පුංචි ලේනා or "batu lena" in the Sinhala language.
Urva is a genus comprising the Asian mongooses within the mongoose family Herpestidae. Species in the genus were formerly classified in the genus Herpestes, which is now thought to comprise exclusively African mongooses; phylogenetic evidence indicates that the Asian mongooses form a monophyletic group and had an Asian common ancestor. Urva forms a clade with Xenogale and Atilax, while Herpestes forms a clade with all other African mongoose species.
Data related to Herpestes smithii at Wikispecies  | This article about a carnivoran is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
