Galidia elegans (Information about this image)
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Laurasiatheria
Cladus: Scrotifera
Cladus: Ferungulata
Cladus: Ferae
Cladus: Pancarnivora
Cladus: Carnivoramorpha
Cladus: Carnivoraformes
Ordo: Carnivora
Subordo: Feliformia
Familia: Eupleridae
Subfamilia: Galidiinae
Genus: Galidia
Species: Galidia elegans
Name
Galidia elegans Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1837
References
Galidia elegans in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
IUCN: Galidia elegans (Least Concern)
The ring-tailed vontsira (Galidia elegans), locally still known as the ring-tailed mongoose, is a euplerid in the subfamily Galidiinae, a carnivoran native to Madagascar.[2] It is the only species in the genus Galidia.
Classification and etymology
There is much disagreement about the placement of Madagascar's carnivores, including the ring-tailed vontsira, within the phylogenetic tree. A 2003 study reported evidence that the Malagasy Carnivora evolved from a single herpestid ancestor.[3]
A monotypic genus, Galidia literally means "little weasel", being a diminutive form of galē (γαλῆ, "weasel" in ancient Greek).[4] Its local common name is vontsira mena, ‘red vontsira’ in Malagasy.[5]
Description
The ring-tailed vontsira is relatively small but is the largest member of the subfamily Galidiinae. It is usually 32 to 38 cm (12.5 to 15 in) long and weighs only 700 to 900 g (25 to 32 oz). Its body is long and slender, and the rounded head has a pointed snout. The body is a dark red color and the feet are black. As the name implies, its bushy tail is covered with black and red rings and is similar to the red panda.
Ring-tailed vontsira are very agile, and good climbers. They are quite playful and are active during the day. Their habitat consists of humid forests. Their diet is mostly of small mammals, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds and eggs, but they occasionally eat insects and fruit.[6]
The population of ring-tailed vontsira has decreased by 20% during the period 1989-1999 due to habitat loss.[7] Another problem is competition with the small Indian civet (Viverricula indica).[8]
References
Hawkins, F. (2015). "Galidia elegans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T39426A45204213. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T39426A45204213.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 532–628. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Yoder, Anne D.; Burns, Melissa M.; Zehr, Sarah; Delefosse, Thomas; Veron, Geraldine; Goodman, Steven M.; Flynn, John J. (2003). "Single origin of Malagasy Carnivora from an African ancestor". Nature. 421 (6924): 734–737. Bibcode:2003Natur.421..734Y. doi:10.1038/nature01303. PMID 12610623. S2CID 4404379.
Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary
Blench, Roger and Martin Walsh, Faunal names in Malagasy: their etymologies and implications for the prehistory of the East African coast (2009)
Nowicki, Kristen. "Galidia elegans (ring-tailed mongoose)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
Nick, Garbutt (2007-01-01). Mammals of Madagascar : a complete guide. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300125504. OCLC 154689042.
Nowicki, Kristen. "Galidia elegans (ring-tailed mongoose)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
Vernacular names
brezhoneg: Mañgoust gwalenet he lost
Deutsch: Ringelschwanzmungo
English: Ring-tailed Mongoose
español: Mangosta de cola anillada
suomi: Puumangusti
français: Mangouste à queue annelée
日本語: ワオマングース
Nederlands: Ringstaartmangoest
polski: galidia kasztanowata
svenska: Ringsvansmangust
中文: 環尾獴
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