Brown Mongoose (Herpestes Fuscus)

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Sinhalese:  Mugatiya or Ram-mugatiya

Tamil: Keerie-pulle, Karrung-Keerie, Poo-Keerie or Pambu-Keerie

Description: There are four races of this mongoose, each differing slightly in size and colour, but all are of a grizzled brown with no  color differences on the tip of the tail. The adult male is larger than the female, having and overall length about of 68 cms.

Distribution: The 2 races from the hill country and wet zones are moderately plentiful, but the 2 dry zone races from the north and east are rare.

Habits for all 4 species: The mongoose is mainly diurnal but not entirely so, and usually seen singly or in pairs, often trotting along with the end of its tail curved up. They have an insatiable curiosity and are always busy. When alerted, they sometimes sit bolt upright, presumably to see better. Their food consists small animals, birds, eggs, lizards, snakes, insects and occasionally fruits, roots and carrion. The Striped-Necked mongoose also eats crabs, frogs and possibly fish. All specie have excellent eye-sight, smell and hearing.

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