Wildlifeof India
Indian Brown Mongoose
Civets, Mongooses & Hyena
Photo: Tero Linjama · CC0 1.0
Urva fusca
Basic stats
Diet
Small rodents, snakes, lizards, spiders, grubs, birds, eggs and frogs; occasionally berries and flowers
Habitat
Dense forest
Range
Western Ghats of India and western Sri Lanka
Litter size
2–3 young
Size
Head and body 33–48cm; tail 20–34cm
Weight
Males about 2.7kg
The Indian brown mongoose is native to the Western Ghats in India and the western coast of Sri Lanka, and has been introduced to Fiji. It has a dark brown body, black legs and a pointed tail that is more furry than that of the small Indian mongoose. Head and body length is 33–48 cm and the tail 20–34 cm, about two-thirds of the body length. It looks large next to the other mongooses of the southern Western Ghats. Males are larger and heavier than females and weigh about 2.7 kg (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is nocturnal, prefers to live alone and keeps to dense forest. It is an opportunistic carnivore that feeds mainly on small rodents, snakes, lizards, spiders, grubs, birds, eggs and frogs, and at times on berries and flowers. To breed, it burrows among densely packed rocks and gives birth to two or three young (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Indian Brown Mongoose eat?
- Small rodents, snakes, lizards, spiders, grubs, birds, eggs and frogs; occasionally berries and flowers
- What habitat does the Indian Brown Mongoose live in?
- Dense forest
- Where is the Indian Brown Mongoose found?
- Western Ghats of India and western Sri Lanka
- What is the litter size of the Indian Brown Mongoose?
- 2–3 young
- How big is the Indian Brown Mongoose?
- Head and body 33–48cm; tail 20–34cm
- How much does the Indian Brown Mongoose weigh?
- Males about 2.7kg