https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Ruddy_mongooseRuddy mongoose - Revision history2026-10-23T07:44:47ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ruddy_mongoose&diff=257813&oldid=prev->Elusivecaretaker: Fixed typo2021-10-01T11:15:49Z<p>Fixed typo</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Species of mongoose from South Asia}}<br />
{{Speciesbox<br />
| name = Ruddy mongoose<br />
| image = Ruddy-mongoose.jpg<br />
| image_caption = <br />
| status = LC<br />
| status_system = IUCN3.1<br />
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |title=''Herpestes smithii'' |name-list-style=amp |author=Mudappa, D. |author2=Choudhury, A. |year=2016 |page=e.T41617A45208195}}</ref><br />
| genus = Urva<br />
| species = smithii<br />
| authority = ([[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1837)<br />
| range_map = Ruddy Mongoos area.png<br />
| range_map_caption = Ruddy mongoose range<br />
| synonyms = ''Herpestes smithii''<br />
}}<br />
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The '''ruddy mongoose''' (''Urva smithii'') is a [[mongoose]] [[species]] native to hill forests in [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]].<ref name=iucn/><br />
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==Description==<br />
The ruddy mongoose's fur is brownish and coarse, long in hindquarters, but short in other parts of the body. Its head to body length is {{cvt|40-45|cm}} with a {{cvt|36|cm}} long tail. Males are larger and heavier than females with a weight of {{cvt|2.2|kg}}; females weigh about {{cvt|1.2|kg}}. Tail constitute about 75-90 % of body length. It is distinguished by the Indian grey mongoose by its slightly larger size and jet black-tipped tail.<ref name=MSL>{{cite book|author=Yapa, A.|author2=Ratnavira, G.|year=2013|title= Mammals of Sri Lanka |publisher=Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka |location= Colombo |pages= 1012|isbn= 978-955-8576-32-8}}</ref> <br />
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==Distribution and habitat==<br />
[[File:Ruddy mongoose.jpg|thumb|A ruddy mongoose in [[Panna National Park]]]]<br />
[[File:Ruddy-mongoose-yala-casey-klebba.jpg|thumb|A ruddy mongoose in [[Yala National Park]]]]<br />
The ruddy mongoose is mainly a [[forest]]-living animal and prefers more secluded areas. It has also been recorded in secluded paddy fields and in comparatively open fields.<ref name="Prater">{{cite book |author=Prater, S.H. |date=1971 |title=The Book of Indian Animals |edition=Third |location=Bombay |publisher=Bombay Natural History Society |isbn=019562169-7}}</ref><br />
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==Taxonomy==<br />
''Herpestes smithii'' was the [[scientific name]] proposed by [[John Edward Gray]] in 1837 for a [[zoological specimen]] in the collection of the [[British Museum Natural History]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Gray, J. E. |year=1837 |title=Description of some or little known Mammalia, principally in the British Museum Collection |journal=The Magazine of Natural History and Journal of Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology and Meteorology |volume=I |issue=November |pages=577–587 |url=https://archive.org/details/magazineofnatura101837loud/page/578}}</ref> All Asian mongooses are now thought to belong in the genus ''[[Urva (genus)|Urva]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|title=ASM Mammal Diversity Database|url=https://www.mammaldiversity.org/index.html|access-date=2021-07-08|website=www.mammaldiversity.org}}</ref>''<br />
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Subspecies:<ref name="WII">http://www.wii.gov.in/envis/envisdec99/ruddymongoose.htm</ref><br />
* ''U. s. smithii''<br />
* ''U. s. thysanurus''<br />
* ''U. s. zeylanius''<br />
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==Ecology and Behavior==<br />
It usually carries its black tipped tail tip curved upward which is visible from a distance. Like other mongooses, it hunts by day and by night,<ref name="Prater"/> and feeds on birds, rat snakes, land monitors, rodents and snails. Generally a solitary animal, rarely can be seen in pairs during mating season. However, mother and pup family groups consisting about five animals have been observed.<ref name=MSL /> <br />
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It is found in thick jungles, forest edges near paddy fields and tea estates. However, withdraw quickly in a crevice or underneath a rock shelf during human confrontation. When cornered, they fight fearlessly with loud and shrill cries.<ref name=MSL /><br />
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==In culture==<br />
In [[Sri Lanka]] this animal is usually regarded as an unlikable animal and a pest. The [[golden palm civet]] (''Paradoxurus zeylonensis''), altogether a different species endemic to Sri Lanka, is also called {{transl|si|hotambuwa}} due to similar appearance and [[Animal coloration|coloration]].<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* {{Wikispecies-inline|Herpestes smithii}}<br />
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{{Carnivora|F.}}<br />
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1968383}}<br />
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[[Category:Mammals described in 1837]]<br />
[[Category:Taxa named by John Edward Gray]]<br />
[[Category:Carnivorans of Asia|Mongoose, Ruddy]]<br />
[[Category:Mammals of India|Mongoose, Ruddy]]<br />
[[Category:Mammals of Sri Lanka|Mongoose, Ruddy]]<br />
[[Category:Urva (genus)]]<br />
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