GREYMONGOOSE
DESCRIPTION: The common Indian Grey
Mongoose is the famed animal traditionally used in snake and mongoose shows and
has been immortalized as Rikki-Tikki-Tavi in Rudyard Kipling’s story. Its tawny
grey fur is much more grizzled and coarser than that of other mongooses and
individual hairs have 10 alternate dark and light bands. Its small legs are
darker than its body, and its tail is as long as its head and body put
together. The tip of the tail is never black but pale yellow or white. The
amount of ruddiness in the coat varies in different subspecies, but all animals are more grey
than other mongooses. Males are larger than female.
BEHAVIOUR: Known for tackling venomous
snakes adeptly; however, the animal is a generalist omnivore. All mongooses
have excellent colour vision.
DISTRIBUTION: Throughout India except the
high Himalayas. Found up to 2,100 m in the Himalayas. Subspecific distribution
needs confirmation, but in literature is as follows: H.e. edwardsii in south–east
India, H.e. carnaticus in south–west India, H.e. moerens
in eastern, central and north–east India, H.e. pallens in western India, and H.e. montanus in north–west India.
Size: 36–45 cm
IUCN Status: Least Concern
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