| Indian brown mongoose | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Western Ghats,India | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Herpestidae |
| Genus: | Urva |
| Species: | U. fusca |
| Binomial name | |
| Urva fusca Waterhouse, 1838 | |
 | |
| Indian brown mongoose range | |
| Synonyms | |
Herpestes fuscus | |
TheIndian brown mongoose orbrown mongoose (Urva fusca) is amongoosespecies native to theWestern Ghats in India and the western coast inSri Lanka and introduced toFiji.[3] It is listed asleast concern on theIUCN Red List.[1]
The Indian brown mongoose appears large compared to the other mongoose species in southernWestern Ghats. This species has a dark brown body and its legs are noticeably in black colour. Head to body length is 33–48 cm. Tail is about 20–34 cm which is two-thirds of its body length and more furry than that of thesmall Indian mongoose. A pointed tail and fur beneath the hindleg help to distinguish this species from others.[4] Males are larger and heavier than females with a weight of 2.7 kg. Young are much darker in color with yellowish eyes.[5]
In South India, the Indian brown mongoose lives at an elevation range of 700–1,300 m (2,300–4,300 ft) from Virajpet in south Coorg and Ooty in theNilgiri Hills, Tiger Shola in thePalni Hills,High Wavy Mountains in Madurai, Kalakad-Mundanthurai inAgasthyamalai Hills, Valparai plateau in theAnamalai Hills, and Peeramedu in Kerala.[1] In Sri Lanka, the species is confined to west coast, central hills and western urban centers.[5]
In the 1970s, it has been introduced toFiji, where it lives insympatry with theJavan mongoose.[6]
The Indian brown mongoose is nocturnal in nature, prefers to live in isolation, and maintains its habitats in dense forests. In Sri Lanka, it prefers jungle patches covered with ferns and brush to tea estates. Generally a shy animal that avoid human habitation, but sometimes enter suburban gardens to feed on snakes and mice. When threaten, it will flee to a hole or termitaria but make ferocious fight when cornered.[5]
When ready to breed, Indian brown mongooses burrow in densely-packed rocks and give birth to two to three young. The brown mongoose is opportunistic carnivore, feeding primarily on small rodents, snakes, lizards, spiders, grubs, birds, eggs, frogs and at times also on berries and flowers.[6] During hunting, it stops motionless to detect sound emitted by the prey and quickly pounce on the prey with a bite to head.[5]
Parturition is usually in a burrowing dug well concealed embankment or underneath a rock or an anthill. Female gives birth to three to four pups in any time of the year.[5]
Herpestes fuscus was thescientific name proposed byGeorge Robert Waterhouse in 1838 for a greyish brown mongoose skin that had been purchased inMadras.[7] All Asian mongooses are now thought to belong in the genusUrva.[8]
