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: Herpestidae
Subfamilia: Herpestinae
Genus: Urva
Species: Urva fusca
Subspecies: U. f. fusca – U. f. phillipsi – U. f. rubidior – U. f. siccata
Name
Urva fusca (Waterhouse, 1838)
Synonymy
Herpestes fuscus
References
Primary references
Patou, M.-L., Mclenachan, P.A., Morley, C.G., Couloux, A., Jennings, A.P. & Veron, G. 2009. Molecular phylogeny of the Herpestidae (Mammalia, Carnivora) with a special emphasis on the Asian Herpestes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 53(1): 69–80. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2009.05.038 ResearchGate Reference page.
Links
Herpestes fuscus 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: Herpestes fuscus Waterhouse, 1838 (Data Deficient)
Vernacular names
Deutsch: Indischer Kurzschwanzmungo
English: Indian Brown Mongoose
polski: Mangusta brunatna
The Indian brown mongoose or brown mongoose (Urva fusca) is a mongoose species native to the Western Ghats in India and the western coast in Sri Lanka and introduced to Fiji.[2] It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.[1]
Characteristics
The Indian brown mongoose appears large compared to the other mongoose species in southern Western 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 the small Indian mongoose. A pointed tail and fur beneath the hindleg help to distinguish this species from others.[3] Males are larger and heavier than females with a weight of 2.7 kg. Young are much darker in color with yellowish eyes.[4]
Distribution and habitat
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 the Nilgiri Hills, Tiger Shola in the Palni Hills, High Wavy Mountains in Madurai, Kalakad-Mundanthurai in Agasthyamalai Hills, Valparai plateau in the Anamalai Hills, and Peeramedu in Kerala.[1] In Sri Lanka, the species is confined to west coast, central hills and western urban centers.[4]
In the 1970s, it has been introduced to Fiji, where it lives in sympatry with the Javan mongoose.[5]
Behaviour and ecology
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.[4]
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.[5] During hunting, it stops motionless to detect sound emitted by the prey and quickly pounce on the prey with a bite to head.[4]
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.[4]
Taxonomy
Herpestes fuscus was the scientific name proposed by George Robert Waterhouse in 1838 for a greyish brown mongoose skin that had been purchased in Madras.[6] All Asian mongooses are now thought to belong in the genus Urva.[7]
References
Mudappa, D.; Jathanna, D. (2015). "Herpestes fuscus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T41612A45207051.
Veron, Geraldine; Patou, Marie-Lilith; Simberloff, Daniel; McLenachan, Patricia A.; Morley, Craig G. (1 July 2010). "The Indian brown mongoose, yet another invader in Fiji". Biological Invasions. 12 (7): 1947–1951. doi:10.1007/s10530-009-9616-z. ISSN 1573-1464.
Menon, V. (2014). Indian Mammals: A Field Guide. UK: Hachette. ISBN 9789350097618.
Yapa, A.; Ratnavira, G. (2013). Mammals of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka. p. 1012. ISBN 978-955-8576-32-8.
Veron, G.; Patou, M.L.; Simberloff, D.; McLenachan, P.A. & Morley, C.G. (2010). "The Indian brown mongoose, yet another invader in Fiji". Biological Invasions. 12 (7): 1947–1951. doi:10.1007/s10530-009-9616-z. S2CID 41627327.
Waterhouse, G.R. (1838). "On two new species of Mammalia, from the Society's collection, belonging to the genera Gerbillus and Herpestes". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. VI: 55–56.
"ASM Mammal Diversity Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
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