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Ruddy Mongoose Herpestes smithii Gray, 1837

Distribution

It is distributed in peninsular India, in Western and Eastern Ghats, extending northwards up to Madhya Pradesh, and at least up to 250 N in Rajasthan as far as Delhi and eastwards 240 N in Bihar (Pocock 1939, Prater 1971, Corbet & Hill 1992). Recent records from north India are from Madhav NP, Madhya Pradesh, Sariska TR, Rajasthan and Asola Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi.

Description

The ruddy mongoose is very closely related to Indian grey mongoose H. edwardsii, but distinguished by its slightly larger size and black tipped tail extending for 2 to 3 inches at the distal end. Body is generally darker in colour with black and greyish-white speckling and a reddish cast traceable in the hair of the upper side, particularly on the head, neck and between the shoulders. The fore legs are reddish-brown and speckled, while the hind legs are brighter red. The tail is three-quarters the length of the head and body, busy at the base, and is usually carried with the tip curved upwards, which is the identification character. Head and body length varies between 390 to 470 mm, tail length 333 to 362 mm and hind feet 78 to 84 mm (Pocock 1941, Phillips 1984, Corbet & Hill 1992). The weight varies from 0.95 to1.85 kg. Males are larger than the females.

Of the two subspecies, the Indian race is H. smithii smithii Gray 1837 and the other H. smithii zeylanius Thomas, 1852 found in Sri Lanka.

Behaviour

The ruddy mongoose is mainly a forest loving animal in contrast to the grey or small Indian mongoose and prefers more secluded areas. They have also been recorded from secluded paddy fields and in comparatively open fields. Like other mongoose, it hunts by day as well as by night but it is in fact crepuscular in nature. Its normal food is similar to other mongoose species including carrion.

Conservation status

It is listed in Schedule IV of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and Appendix III of CITES. It does not figure in IUCN Red List. It was evaluated as LR 1c during the CAMP Workshop.

| Introduction | Mustelids | Viverrids | Herpestids | 
| Conservation Significance | References |