Striped Neck Mongoose
The
Stripe-necked Mongoose
The
Stripe-necked Mongoose is the biggest mongoose found in Asia. Confined to India
and Sri Lanka, it can be sighted in well-wooded habitats, particularly in dry
and moist deciduous forests where it prefers streams and rivers.
Stripe-necked
Mongooses have short limbs, with long fore-claws and the colour of their fur
can be dark brown, gray-yellow, or orange-yellow. The male weighs around 3 kg
and the females weigh much less. This large mongoose is identified in the field
by its tail which is three fourths of its body length and has a black tip which
is pointed upwards. The prominent brownish black stripe running from its ear to
shoulder gives it its name.
A litter of the Stripe-necked Mongoose ranges
from 2 to 3, and the newborns hunt with their parent until they are
independent. This mongoose is frequently sighted during the day at the open
sea, and more often than not, is a solitary species. Its diet consists mainly
of crabs, birds, small mammals (such as the Mouse Deer), fish, frogs, grubs,
insects and certain kinds of roots. It prefers to stay inside a forest, and
near waterbodies.
This species
is threatened on a local scale by hunting and trade. It is hunted for its meat
that is eaten by several tribes and for its hair that is used for making
shaving brushes, paint brushes, and good luck charms.
An
Interesting Fact: the Stripe-necked Mongoose can also prey on something larger
than itself, like for example, the Indian Hare.
