crab-eating mongoose

{{Speciesbox

| name = Crab-eating mongoose

| image = Urva_urva_77938111.jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |title=Herpestes urva |errata=2016 |author1=Choudhury, A. |author2=Timmins, R. |author3=Chutipong, W. |author4=Duckworth, J. W. |author5=Mudappa, D. |author6= Willcox, D. H. A. |year=2015 |page=e.T41618A86159618 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41618A45208308.en |access-date=24 December 2019}}

| genus = Urva

| species = urva

| authority = (Hodgson, 1836)

| range_map = The range of the Crab Eating Mongoose.png

| range_map_caption = Distribution of the crab-eating mongoose

| synonyms = Gulo urva

Herpestes urva

| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies

| subdivision_ref = {{MSW3 Carnivora |id=14000629 |pages=569–570}}

| subdivision = *U. u. urva

U. u. annamensis
U. u. formosanus
U. u. sinensis

}}

The crab-eating mongoose (Urva urva) is a species of mongoose found from the north-eastern Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia to southern China and Taiwan. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Taxonomy

Gulo urva was the scientific name introduced by Brian Houghton Hodgson in 1836 who first described the type specimen that originated in central Nepal.{{cite journal|author=Hodgson, B. H.|year=1836|title=Synoptical description of sundry new animals, enumerated in the Catalogue of Nepalese Mammals |url=https://archive.org/details/journalofasiatic05asia/page/238 |journal=Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal |volume=5 |pages=231–238}} It was later classified in the genus Herpestes, but all Asian mongooses are now thought to belong in the genus Urva, of which U. urva is the type species.{{cite journal |last1=Patou |first1=M. |last2=Mclenachan |first2=P.A. |last3=Morley |first3=C.G. |last4=Couloux |first4=A. |last5=Jennings |first5=A.P. |last6=Veron |first6=G. |title=Molecular phylogeny of the Herpestidae (Mammalia, Carnivora) with a special emphasis on the Asian Herpestes |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |date=2009 |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=69–80 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2009.05.038 |pmid=19520178 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26286265}}{{cite journal |author1=Veron, G. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Jennings, A.P. |year=2017 |title=Javan mongoose or small Indian mongoose – who is where? |journal=Mammalian Biology |volume=87 |issue=1 |pages=62–70 |doi=10.1016/j.mambio.2017.05.006 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317583330 |doi-access=free }}

Characteristics

File:Herpestes urva - Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology - DSC02477.JPG, China]]

The crab-eating mongoose is grey on the sides and dusky brown on neck, chest, belly and limbs. It has a broad white stripe on the sides of the neck extending from the cheeks to the shoulder.

It has white specks on the top of the head, its chin is white and its throat gray. Its iris is yellow. Its ears are short and rounded. It has webs between the digits. In head-to-body length it ranges from {{convert|47.7|to|55.8|cm|abbr=on}} with a {{convert|28|to|34|cm|abbr=on}} long bushy tail. Its weight ranges from {{convert|1.1|to|2.5|kg|abbr=on}}.{{cite journal |author=Van Rompaey, H. |year=2001 |title=The Crab-eating mongoose, Herpestes urva |journal=Small Carnivore Conservation |issue=25 |pages=12–17 |url=http://nebula.wsimg.com/b303e14278ae2f512d96ee1130973e6e?AccessKeyId=35E369A09ED705622D78&disposition=0&alloworigin=1}}

Distribution and habitat

The crab-eating mongoose occurs in northeastern India, northern Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is rare in Bangladesh. It has been recorded at altitudes from sea level to {{cvt|1800|m|ft}}.

In Nepal, it inhabits subtropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests, and has also been observed on agricultural land near human settlements.{{cite journal|last=Thapa|first=S. |title=Observations of Crab-eating Mongoose Herpestes urva in eastern Nepal |journal=Small Carnivore Conservation |volume=49 |pages=31–33 |year=2013 |url=http://nebula.wsimg.com/2e6a272c41843e17bbf5dd2aa9244703?AccessKeyId=35E369A09ED705622D78&disposition=0&alloworigin=1}}

In India, it was recorded in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.{{cite journal |author=Choudhury, A. |year=1997 |title=The distribution and status of small carnivores (mustelids, viverrids, and herpestids) in Assam, India |journal=Small Carnivore Conservation |issue=16 |pages=25–26}}{{cite journal |author=Choudhury, A. |year=1997 |title=Small carnivores (mustelids, viverrids, herpestids, and one ailurid) in Arunachal Pradesh, India |journal=Small Carnivore Conservation |issue=17 |pages=7–9}}{{Cite journal |title=A camera-trap record of a Crab-eating Mongoose Herpestes urva from the Indian portion of the Terai Arc Landscape in Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary, north-west India |year=2022 |author1=Khan, K. A. |author2=Chauhan, A. |author3=Ranjan, V. |author4=Joshi, N. C. |author5=Kumar, K. |author6=Guleria, H. |author7=Malik, P. K. |author8=Rawat, G. S. |author9=Habib, B. |author10=Mohan, D. |journal=Small Carnivore Conservation |volume=60 |page=e60005 |url=https://smallcarnivoreconservation.com/index.php/sccg/article/view/3918/4042 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230323200437/https://smallcarnivoreconservation.com/index.php/sccg/article/view/3918/4042 |archive-date=2023-03-23 |access-date=2025-05-09}}

In Bangladesh, it was recorded in the eastern forested hills in Sylhet and Chittagong areas.

In Myanmar, it was recorded in the Bumhpa Bum hills at up to {{convert|930|m|ft|abbr=on}} altitude, in Hukawng Valley, Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, Bago Yoma and Myinmoletkat Taung during surveys between 2001 and 2003.{{cite journal |last1=Than Zaw |last2=Saw Htun |last3=Saw Htoo Tha Po |last4=Myint Maung |last5=Lynam |first5=A. J. |last6=Kyaw Thinn Latt |last7=Duckworth |first7=J. W. |year=2008 |title=Status and distribution of small carnivores in Myanmar |journal=Small Carnivore Conservation |issue=38 |pages=2–28}}

In China's Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan provinces, it was recorded in subtropical limestone forest during interview and camera-trapping surveys carried out between 1997 and 2005.{{cite journal |last1=Lau |first1=M. W. N. |last2=Fellowes |first2=J. R. |last3=Chan |first3=B. P. L. |year=2010 |title=Carnivores (Mammalia: Carnivora) in South China: a status review with notes on the commercial trade |journal=Mammal Review |volume=40 |issue=42 |pages=247–292 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2907.2010.00163.x}}

Ecology and behaviour

Crab-eating mongooses are usually active in the mornings and evenings, and were observed in groups of up to four individuals. They are supposed to be good swimmers, and hunt along the banks of streams and close to water.

Despite their common name, their diet consists not only of crabs, but also just about anything else they can catch, including fish, snails, frogs, rodents, birds, reptiles, and insects.