Eupleres goudotii

SUBFAMILY

Euplerinae

TAXONOMY

Eupleres goudotii Doyère, 1835, Madagascar.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Malagasy mongoose, slender falanouc, small-toothed mongoose; French: Euplère de Goudot; German: Kleinfalanuk; Spanish: Fanaloca, mangosta dentipequeño.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Body length 18–26 in (45–65 cm), tail 9–20 in (22–50 cm), weight 4–9 lb (2–4 kg). The fore limbs are short and weak, with small paws. The hind legs are longer. The claws are very long, curved, and laterally compressed. There are no anal or perineal glands.

DISTRIBUTION

Madagascar.

HABITAT

Humid, lowland forests.

BEHAVIOR

Nocturnal and terrestrial, it sleeps in burrows or crevices during the day. The people of southeastern Madagascar use falanouc tails for ornamental clothing.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Falanoucs dig for food and feed on insects, earthworms, and other invertebrates.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Mating occurs in July or August, litter size is one or two. Mating system is not known.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Listed as Endangered by the IUCN.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.

Common name / Scientific name / Other common names	Physical characteristics	Habitat and behavior	Distribution	Diet	Conservation status
Owston's palm civet Chrotogale owstoni Spanish: Hemigalo de Owston	Body and base of tail have alternating and sharply contrasting dark and light transverse bands, longitudinal stripes present on neck. Underparts are pale buffy. Head and body length 20–25 in (50.8–63.5 cm), tail length 15–19 in (38.1–48.2 cm).	Species is largely terrestrial, but has been seen in trees. Prefers densely vegetated habitats near water sources in both primary and secondary forests. Mating usually occurs in January and March. Each female has one to two litters, each containing one to three offspring.	Southern Yunan and southwest Guangxi provinces in China; northern Vietnam; and northern Laos.	Heavily consists of earth-worms; however, small vertebrates, invertebrates, and some fruit may also be included in their diet.	Vulnerable
Hose's palm civet Diplogale hosei Spanish: Hemigalo de Hose	Coloration is dark brown or black, underparts are grayish, yellowish, white, or slightly rufescent. Buffy gray patch from eye to cheek. Tail is not banded, but dark throughout. Head and body length 26 in (66 cm), tail length 11.8 in (30 cm).	Montane forest and is largely terrestrial. Partly arboreal, climbs well. Two young per litter.	Borneo.	Mainly orthopterans, worms, and other invertebrates.	Vulnerable
Banded palm civet Hemigalus derbyanus Spanish: Hemigalo franjeado	Narrow, median dark streak on head, two broad stripes from neck to elbow, two imperfect stripes at base of tail. Coloration is whitish to orange buff, usually lighter and more buffy underneath. Head and body length 16.1–20.1 in (41–51 cm), tail length 10–15.1 in (25.5–38.3 cm).	Tall forest. Terrestrial, partly arboreal, climbs well. Two young per litter.	Tenasserim, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and certain small islands to west, and Borneo.	Mostly orthopterans, worms, and other invertebrates. Also eat fruit.	Not threatened
Small-toothed palm civet Arctogalidia trivirgata Spanish: Civeta de los palmares	Coloration of upperparts is tawny, from dusky grayish tawny to bright orange tawny. Head is dark gray and paws are brown. White stripe on muzzle, three brown or black stripes on back. Very long tail. Head and body length 17–20.9 in (43.2–53.2 cm), tail length 20.1–24 in (51–61 cm).	Dense forests, sometimes coconut plantations, but avoids human settlements. Nocturnal and arboreal. Breeding continues throughout year. Two or three young per litter.	Assam to Indochina and the Malay Peninsula, and on Sumatra, Bangka, Java, Borneo, and numerous small nearby islands of the East Indies.	Omnivorous diet, such as squirrels, birds, frogs, insects, and fruit.	Not threatened
Sulawesi palm civet Macrogalidia musschenbroekii Spanish: Civeta celebiana	Upperparts are light brown chestnut to dark brown. Underparts range from fulvous to white, with a red breast. Gray patches on face (cheeks and above eyes). Brown spots and bands present on sides and lower back. Short, close fur, whorl in neck. Head and body length 39.4 in (100 cm), tail length 23.6 in (60 cm).	Montane and lowland forests, and in scrubby grassland. Good climber.	Sulawesi.	Rodents and fruit.	Vulnerable
Masked palm civet Paguma larvata Spanish: Paguma	White and black mask covers face. General color is gray tinged with buff, orange, or yellowish red. No stripes or spots on body. Head and body length 20–30 in (50.8–76.2 cm), tail length 20–25 in (50.8–63.6 cm).	Forests and brush country. Raises young in tree holes. Arboreal and nocturnal. Solitary. May be two breeding periods per year.	Kashmir to Indochina and the Malay Peninsula, in much of eastern and southern China, on the Andaman Islands, Taiwan, Hainan, Sumatra, and Borneo.	Small vertebrates, insects, and fruit.	Not threatened
Palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Spanish: Musang	Coloration is gray to brown, entirely masked by black tips of guard hairs. Patter of dorsal stripes and lateral spots. Patter consists of white patches and white band across forehead. Backward direction of hairs on neck. Head and body length 17–28 in (43.2–71 cm), tail length 16–26 in (40.6–66 cm).	Tropical forests. Reproduction occurs throughout the year. Litter size is two to four young. Nocturnal and arboreal.	Kashmir in the west to the Philippines in the east; from southern China and the Himalayas in the north to the Greater Sundas and many lesser Sunda Islands in the south.	Primarily frugivorous, feeding on berries and pulpy fruits. Also eats reptiles, eggs, and insects.	Not threatened
Blotched genet Genetta tigrina Spanish: Jineta de motas grandes	Coloration is white, gray, or buff. Spots and dark markings cover pelage from shoulders to base of tail. Spots vary from black to rust. Short legs, long body with white-ringed, black-tipped tail. Head and body length 19.3–23.6 in (49–60 cm), tail length 16.5–21.3 in (42–54 cm).	Tropical rainforest, tropical deciduous forest, tropical scrub forest, tropical savanna, and grasslands. Very little known about reproductive patterns. Litter size ranges from one to five offspring. Nocturnal and solitary. Arboreal and nimble. Vocalization important.	South Africa and Lesotho.	Small rodents, birds, reptiles, fruit, and invertebrates.	Not threatened

Common name / Scientific name / Other common names	Physical characteristics	Habitat and behavior	Distribution	Diet	Conservation status
Banded linsang Prionodon linsang Spanish: Linsang rayado	Coloration varies from whitish gray to brownish gray and becomes creamy on underside. Dark patter of four or five broad, transverse black or dark brown bands across back. One large stripe on each side of neck. Dark spots on sides of body and legs. Head and body length (35–45 cm), tail length (30.4–42 cm).	Forests. Nocturnal and arboreal. Nests made of sticks and leaves. No clear breeding season. Two young per litter.	Western and southern Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Bangka, Java, and Borneo.	Small mammals, birds, eggs, and insects.	Not threatened
Indian civet Viverra zibetha English: Large Indian civet; Spanish: Civeta hindú grande	Coloration is gray or brown. Black spots cover body, white stripes on neck. Usually two white stripes and three black stripes. Tail has black rings. Limbs are black. Average body weight 11–24.3 lb (5–11 kg), tail length 13 in (33 cm).	Scrub and densely forested areas. Females are polyestrous, breeding throughout the year. Two litters per year, each producing as many as four offspring. Females raise young alone. Solitary, nocturnal animals. Terrestrial, communicate through glandular secretions.	Nepal and eastern India to southeastern China and Malay Peninsula.	Carnivorous, feeding on birds, frogs, snakes, small mammals, and chickens. They also eat fruit, roots, eggs, and have been recorded eating fish and crabs.	Not threatened
Oriental civet Viverra megaspila English: Large-spotted civet; Spanish: Civeta de motas grandes	Long, loose fur elongated in median line of body, forming low crest or mane. Black spots on grayish or tawny ground color. Black and white stripes on sides of neck and throat. Head and body length 23–37.4 in (58.5–95 cm), tail length 11.8–19 in (30–8.2 cm).	Wide variety of habitats in forest, brush, and grassland. Stay in dense cover during day. Nocturnal, mainly terrestrial, good climbers. Generally solitary, one to four offspring per litter.	Peninsular India, Myanmar to Indochina, and Malay Peninsula.	Small mammals, birds, snakes, frogs, insects, eggs, fruit, and some roots.	Not threatened