Urva urva formosana

(Bechthold, 1936)

Vernacular names
English : Crab-eating mongoose
French : Mangouste mangeuse de crabes

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Herpestidae
Notes : 2 other subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow to a body length of 55 cm, tail length of 34 cm and weight up to 4000 g. Large mongoose with long hairs. Large bushy tail. Belly and legs dark. Rest of fur grizzled grey to grey-brown with conspicuous white neck stripe .

Range and habitat
This subspecies is endemic to Taiwan. The species also occurs on Hainan Island and in south China, south to Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia, west to Nepal. Lives in wetlands, forests near rivers, plantations, up to 2000 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not listed
Status : This species has a large range and is adaptable. In some areas, it is declining because of habitat loss and important hunting pressure.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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