Striped-Necked Mongoose (Herpestes Vitticollis Vitticollis)

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Sinhalese:  Gul-mugatiya or Loku-mugatiya

Tamil:  Malam-keerie

Description: This is the largest of the island’s mongooses, but it has a shorter tail and longer legs, the adult male having an overall length of about 81 cms. It stands slightly taller than the other three species and has a short black stripe on both sides of the neck, and a black tip to its tail.

Distribution: Found in very restricted localities of the hills and lowlands of the dry and wet zones, usually near water and away from human habitation.

Breeding: Usually 2 or 3 young are born, in a sheltered recess amongst rocks in the jungle.

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