Herpestes fuscus, Illiger, 1811

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Herpestidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 262-328 : 310

6.

Indian Brown Mongoose

Herpestes fuscus

French: Mangouste de Malabar / German: Indischer Kurzschwanzmungo /

Spanish: Meloncillo pardo

Taxonomy. Herpestes fuscus Waterhouse, 1838 ,

India.

Some authors previously considered the Indian Brown Mongoose conspecific with the Short-tailed Mongoose (H. brachyurus). Four subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

H. f. fuscus Waterhouse, 1838 — SW India (Western Ghats).

H. f. phillips Thomas, 1924 — Sri Lanka (Central Province).

H. f. rubidior Pocock, 1937 — Sri Lanka (Western Province).

H. f. siccatus Thomas, 1924 — N Sri Lanka (Northern Province).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 33-48 cm, tail 19.8-33. 6 cm, hindfoot 6-5—8-7 cm; weight c. 2-7 kg. A large, heavily built mongoose. The coat color is blackish-brown, speckled with yellow or tawny, and the feet are almost black. The tail is bushy and conical, about 60-70% the length of the head and body. The posterior chamber of the auditory bulla is less flat than in the Javan Mongoose and extends to well below the occipital condyle. Dental formula: 13/3, C1/1,P 4/4, M 2/2 = 40.

Habitat. Dense forest and adjacent areas. On Sri Lanka, found in lowland forest, central hill country, and the dry zone. In south-west India, also occurs in tea and coffee plantations at elevations from 900 to 1400 m.

Food and Feeding. Nothing known.

Activity patterns. Appears to be nocturnal, based on a few camera-trap photographs and sightings.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Terrestrial. Appears to be solitary.

Breeding. Said to breed in burrows beneath rocks and tree roots, and to have three to four young.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable in The IUCN Red List. Specific threats to this species are not known, but habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation could have major impacts on populations. It seems to be rare to uncommon; in India it is found in Virajpet in south Kodagu and Ooty in the Nilgiri Hills, Tiger Shola in the Palni Hills, High Wavy Mountains in Madurai, Kalakkad-Mundanthurai in the Agasthyamalai range, Valparai plateau in the Anaimalai Hills, and Peeramedu in Kerala. Field surveys, ecological studies, habitat protection, and monitoring of threats are urgently needed.

Bibliography. Corbet & Hill (1992), IUCN (2008), Madhusudan (1995), Mudappa (1998, 2001, 2002), Mudappa et al. (2007), Pocock (1941a), Prater (1980), Wozencraft (2005), Yoganand & Kumar (1995).

Figures

1. Marsh Mongoose (Atilax paludinosus), 2. Long-nosed Mongoose (Xenogale naso), 3. Small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus), 4. Short-tailed Mongoose (Herpestes brachyurus), 5. Indian Gray Mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii), 6. Indian Brown Mongoose (Herpestes fuscus), 7. Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), 8. Javan Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus), 9. Collared Mongoose (Herpestes semitorquatus), 10. Ruddy Mongoose (Herpestes smith), 11. Crab-eating Mongoose (Herpestes urva), 12. Stripe-necked Mongoose (Herpestes vitticollis)

Subspecies and Distribution. H. f. fuscus Waterhouse, 1838 — SW India (Western Ghats). H. f. phillips Thomas, 1924 — Sri Lanka (Central Province). H. f. rubidior Pocock, 1937 — Sri Lanka (Western Province). H. f. siccatus Thomas, 1924 — N Sri Lanka (Northern Province).