Indian grey mongoose: Difference between revisions

Indian Gray Mongoose
	Adult in the wild (Hyderabad, India)
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Herpestidae
Subfamily:	Herpestinae
Genus:	Herpestes
Species:	H. edwardsii
Binomial name
	Herpestes edwardsii; É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1818
	Indian Gray Mongoose range

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The Indian Gray Mongoose or Common Grey Mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) is a species of mongoose mainly found in southern Asia mainly India,Pakistan,Nepal, Sri Lanka and some other parts of Asia. The gray mongoose is commonly found in open forests, scrub lands and cultivated fields, often close to human habitation. It lives in burrows, hedgerows and thickets, among groves of trees, taking shelter under rocks or bushes and even in drains. It is very bold and inquisitive but wary, seldom venturing far from cover. It climbs well. Usually found singly or in pairs. It preys on rodents, snakes, birds’ eggs and hatchlings, lizards and variety of invertebrates. Along the Chambal river it occasionally feeds on gharial eggs. It breeds throughout the year.

Description

The Indian grey mongoose, or common grey mongoose is a medium sized tawny or yellowish grey with a lighter underside, darker feet (this separates it from the syntopic Small Asian Mongoose), and dark red tail tip. They have a reddish tint to their heads. Their tail length equals their body length. Body length: 14-17 inches (36-45cm) Tail length: 17 inches (45 cm), weight: 2-4 lb. (0.89-1.7kg). Males are significantly larger than the females.Mongooses can see colors, unlike most mammals, which have only partial color vision. A mongoose cracks eggs open by standing with its back to a wall and throwing the eggs under its body and between its back legs so that the eggs break against the wall. Indian gray mongooses are often kept as pets to keep houses free from rats and other pests. The mongoose closes its outer ear when hunting in soil to keep out dirt and water.^[2]

Feeding

Being carnivorous it feeds on many species ranging from rat to snake. The mongoose is a skillful hunter that actively searches for prey by using its strong senses of smell and sight. It eats anything it can catch. The Indian gray mongoose commonly eats small mammals such as rats, as well as eggs and a variety of insects, including the scorpion. The mongoose sniffs the ground and turns over rocks and stones in its search for prey. If the animal tries to flee, the mongoose chases it. It kills its prey while they are both running by delivering a bite to the neck or head. Although the mongoose eats snakes, including the poisonous cobra the main part of its diet consists of small animals that live on or under the ground. The mongoose is a fast and agile hunter. It is always watchful for prey.^[3]

in Hyderabad, India.
in Hyderabad, India.

References

^ Template:IUCN2008 Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
^ Did you know about Indian Gray Mongoose http://ladywildlife.com/animals/indiangraymongoose.html
^ Ladywidlife's Indian Grey Mongoose http://ladywildlife.com/animals/indiangraymongoose.html

This article about a carnivoran is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[iucn-1] Template:IUCN2008 Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern

[2] Did you know about Indian Gray Mongoose http://ladywildlife.com/animals/indiangraymongoose.html

[3] Ladywidlife's Indian Grey Mongoose http://ladywildlife.com/animals/indiangraymongoose.html

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-The '''Indian Gray Mongoose''' or '''Common Grey Mongoose''' (''Herpestes edwardsii'') is a species of [[mongoose]] mainly found in southern [[India]],[[Pakistan]],[[Nepal]], [[Sri Lanka]] and some other parts of Asia. The gray mongoose is commonly found in open forests, scrub lands and cultivated fields, often close to human habitation. It lives in burrows, hedgerows and thickets, among groves of trees, taking shelter under rocks or bushes and even in drains. It is very bold and inquisitive but wary, seldom venturing far from cover. It climbs well. Usually found singly or in pairs. It preys on [[rodents]], [[snakes]], birds’ eggs and hatchlings, [[lizards]] and variety of [[invertebrates]]. Along the [[Chambal]] river it occasionally feeds on [[gharial]] eggs. It breeds throughout the year.
+The '''Indian Gray Mongoose''' or '''Common Grey Mongoose''' (''Herpestes edwardsii'') is a species of [[mongoose]] mainly found in southern Asia mainly  [[India]],[[Pakistan]],[[Nepal]], [[Sri Lanka]] and some other parts of Asia. The gray mongoose is commonly found in open forests, scrub lands and cultivated fields, often close to human habitation. It lives in burrows, hedgerows and thickets, among groves of trees, taking shelter under rocks or bushes and even in drains. It is very bold and inquisitive but wary, seldom venturing far from cover. It climbs well. Usually found singly or in pairs. It preys on [[rodents]], [[snakes]], birds’ eggs and hatchlings, [[lizards]] and variety of [[invertebrates]]. Along the [[Chambal]] river it occasionally feeds on [[gharial]] eggs. It breeds throughout the year.
 ==Description==
-The Indian grey mongoose, or common grey mongoose is a medium sized tawny or yellowish grey with a lighter underside, darker feet (this separates it from the syntopic [[Small Asian Mongoose]]), and dark red tail tip. They have a reddish tint to their heads. Their tail length equals their body length. Body length: 14-17 inches (36-45cm) Tail length: 17 inches (45 cm), weight: 2-4 lb. (0.89-1.7kg). Males are significantly larger than the females.
+The Indian grey mongoose, or common grey mongoose is a medium sized tawny or yellowish grey with a lighter underside, darker feet (this separates it from the syntopic [[Small Asian Mongoose]]), and dark red tail tip. They have a reddish tint to their heads. Their tail length equals their body length. Body length: 14-17 inches (36-45cm) Tail length: 17 inches (45 cm), weight: 2-4 lb. (0.89-1.7kg). Males are significantly larger than the females.Mongooses can see colors, unlike most mammals, which have only partial color vision.
+A mongoose cracks eggs open by standing with its back to a wall and throwing the eggs under its body and between its back legs so that the eggs break against the wall.
+Indian gray mongooses are often kept as pets to keep houses free from rats and other pests.
+The mongoose closes its outer ear when hunting in soil to keep out dirt and water.<ref>Did you know about Indian Gray Mongoose http://ladywildlife.com/animals/indiangraymongoose.html</ref>
 ==Feeding==
+Being carnivorous it feeds on many species ranging from [[rat]] to [[snake]]. The mongoose is a skillful hunter that actively searches for prey by using its strong senses of smell and sight. It eats anything it can catch. The Indian gray mongoose commonly eats small mammals such as rats, as well as eggs and a variety of insects, including the [[scorpion]]. The mongoose sniffs the ground and turns over rocks and stones in its search for prey. If the animal tries to flee, the mongoose chases it. It kills its prey while they are both running by delivering a bite to the neck or head. Although the mongoose eats snakes, including the poisonous [[cobra]] the main part of its diet consists of small animals that live on or under the ground. The mongoose is a fast and agile hunter. It is always watchful for prey.<ref>Ladywidlife's Indian Grey Mongoose http://ladywildlife.com/animals/indiangraymongoose.html</ref>
-Being carnivorous it feeds on many species ranging from [[rat]] to [[snake]].
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