Wildlifeof Nepal
Small Asian Mongoose
Civets, Linsangs & MongoosesHerpestes javanicus
Basic stats
Diet
Mostly insects, plus crabs, frogs, spiders, scorpions, snakes, small mammals, birds and eggs (Javan mongoose account)
Habitat
Forests, abandoned plantations and pineapple fields, up to about 1,800m (Javan mongoose account)
Range
Javan mongoose: Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Java
Litter size
2-5 young
Gestation period
Up to 49 days
The account used here is for the Javan mongoose (Urva javanica, formerly Herpestes javanicus), which has reddish-brown to dark brown fur, richest on the back, short ear hairs and a tapering tail. It lives in forests, abandoned plantations and pineapple fields up to about 1,800m and eats mostly insects, plus crabs, frogs, spiders, scorpions, snakes, small mammals, birds and eggs (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is mostly solitary, though males sometimes form groups and share burrows. Pregnancy lasts up to 49 days with litters of two to five. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire described it in 1818. The source places it in South-east Asia and does not name Nepal or South Asia, so the identity of the Nepal animals listed under this name should be checked (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Small Asian Mongoose eat?
- Mostly insects, plus crabs, frogs, spiders, scorpions, snakes, small mammals, birds and eggs (Javan mongoose account)
- What habitat does the Small Asian Mongoose live in?
- Forests, abandoned plantations and pineapple fields, up to about 1,800m (Javan mongoose account)
- Where is the Small Asian Mongoose found?
- Javan mongoose: Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Java
- What is the litter size of the Small Asian Mongoose?
- 2-5 young
- How long is the gestation period of the Small Asian Mongoose?
- Up to 49 days