Ruddy mongoose
{{Short description|Species of mongoose from South Asia}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Ruddy mongoose
| image = Ruddy-mongoose.jpg
| image_caption =
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Urva
| species = smithii
| authority = (Gray, 1837)
| range_map = Ruddy Mongoos area.png
| range_map_caption = Ruddy mongoose range
| synonyms = Herpestes smithii
}}
The ruddy mongoose (Urva smithii) is a mongoose species native to hill forests in India and Sri Lanka.
Description
Its head to body length is {{cvt|40-45|cm}} with a {{cvt|36|cm}} long tail.{{cite book|author=Yapa, A.|author2=Ratnavira, G.|year=2013|title= Mammals of Sri Lanka |publisher=Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka |location= Colombo |pages= 1012|isbn= 978-955-8576-32-8}}
Distribution and habitat
File:Ruddy-mongoose-yala-casey-klebba.jpg]]
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.{{cite book |author=Prater, S.H. |date=1971 |title=The Book of Indian Animals |edition=Third |location=Bombay |publisher=Bombay Natural History Society |isbn=019562169-7}}
Taxonomy
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.{{cite journal |author=Gray, J. E. |year=1837 |title=Description of some or little known Mammalia, principally in the British Museum Collection |journal=The Magazine of Natural History and Journal of Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology and Meteorology |volume=I |issue=November |pages=577–587 |url=https://archive.org/details/magazineofnatura101837loud/page/578}} All Asian mongooses are now thought to belong in the genus Urva.{{Cite web|title=ASM Mammal Diversity Database|url=https://www.mammaldiversity.org/index.html|access-date=2021-07-08|website=www.mammaldiversity.org}}
- U. s. smithii
- U. s. thysanurus
- U. s. zeylanius
Ecology and behavior
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, 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.
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.
In culture
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 {{transliteration|si|hotambuwa}} due to similar appearance and coloration.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Herpestes smithii}}
{{Carnivora|F.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1968383}}
Category:Mammals described in 1837
Category:Taxa named by John Edward Gray
{{carnivora-stub}}