Ring-tailed mongoose

Ring-tailed mongoose ( Galidia elegans)

The ring-tailed mongoose ( Galidia elegans) is a living in Madagascar carnivore species from the family of Malagasy carnivores ( Eupleridae ).

Physique

As with all Madagascan mongoose the trunk is slender and elongated limbs are short and flattened head ends in a short, pointed snout. Ring-tailed mongoose have a reddish brown fur on the back, the head is light brown, while their legs and their edges are colored black. The belly is in the nominate also dark, with other subspecies, however, much brighter. Your name is due to its bushy tail, which is provided with five to seven turns reddish brown, and black colored rings and reaches about two thirds of the body length. Her short, rounded ears, wearing a white top. The feet are large, toes are relatively short and provided with small webbed. These animals can reach a body length from 30 to 38 centimeters, a tail length of 26-29 centimeters and a weight of 650-960 grams, with the males being slightly heavier than the females.

Distribution and habitat

Ring-tailed mongoose are common in the eastern, northern and western Madagascar, they are the most widespread representative of Madagascar mongoose. They live both in the rainforests of the East as well as in the drier deciduous forests of the West. They occur in up to 1950 meters altitude from sea level.

Way of life

Ring-tailed mongoose is primarily diurnal predators, but contrary to earlier opinion it can go quite well at night in search of food. Especially in the early morning and late afternoon they are most active. They are agile and good climbers to keep themselves above all on the floor. They can also swim very well. They prefer to sleep back in self-dug burrows, in caves, under fallen logs or other shelters. The beds are changed regularly to ward off predators and parasites.

They live at least part of the year in family groups that consist of an adult pair and up to three pups, but sometimes loners are observed. A family group occupies an area of around 20 to 25 acres, which is marked with glandular secretion. Between group strange animals, especially adult males, it often comes to aggressive encounters. The case inferior animal expresses its subordination by holding the chest to the ground, ears lays back and baring his teeth.

Food

These animals feed on small mammals (such as rodents, tenrecs and lemurs ), fish, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates such as crabs, snails, millipedes, insects and others. They dig their prey from the earth, or lurk on the banks of water bodies to delve quickly and strike. Since they often climb trees to catch birds' eggs or young birds, several species of birds hate on them.

Sometimes they also penetrate into human settlements and tear poultry.

Reproduction

In eastern Madagascar mating occurs from July to November, after a 75 - day gestation, the female gives birth to a single young is born. This weighs at birth 40 to 50 grams and is hairy. After four days their eyes open, after twelve days they start to go. After approximately 2 to 2.5 months they are weaned. With approximately one year, they are fully grown, until then they remain in their natal group. Sexual maturity occurs at around two years. One specimen in captivity reached an age of 24 years, life expectancy in the wild is not known.

Threat

In parts of the range, the destruction of habitat and competition for food from introduced animals such as cats and small Indian civet cats a threat to the ring-tailed mongoose is, they are also in some hunted. However, they are widespread and occur in high population densities, in numerous protected areas. The IUCN lists the species as therefore " not at risk " ( least concern ).