The Ring Tailed Mongoose isn't a very large animal. The size varies from 32 to 38 centimeters. It only weighs 24 to 32 ounces. It is long and slender with a round head and a pointed snout. The coloration of this animal is very interesting. Its body is dark red with black feet. They live in forests so they adapted into very good climbers. It has many identifying characteristics. The upper body is reddish and the tail is bushy and has red and black rings. This carnivorous animal is one of the smallest mongooses in the world. The Ting Tailed Mongoose doesn't have many threats. The threats though are big ones. One of the big threats is logging. Logging is when humans cut down trees to make room to build houses. I think we should stop logging because it not only endangers the Ring Tailed Mongoose but many other animals. Domestic dogs are killing the mongoose also. They chase them and kill them. They escape by climbing up trees when they get attacked.

 

The Ring Tailed Mongoose also fight with domestic cats for food. We should stop logging and keep our pets close. The population of the Ring Tailed Mongoose has gone down 20% in the last 10 years. The Ring Tailed Mongoose eats many things. They eat small mammals, birds, and their eggs. They eat frogs, fruits, and fish. Finally, the Ring Tailed Mongoose eats reptiles and invertebrates. Occasionally they eat the Brown Mouse Lemur and the Greater Dwarf Lemur. They compete for food and territory with many animals. The most common animal they compete with is the Indian Civet. This particular mongoose doesn't have many predators.

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The most common threat is the domestic dog. They eat them and they eat the food of the Ring Tailed Mongoose. The mongoose evades them by climbing up tall trees. The dogs' can't climb trees, so they are safe for now. But what if there are no trees? Then the mongoose tries to outrun the dog. The Indian Civet also eats its food so that is a small threat. There is plenty of food most of the time. Sometimes it can be a big threat though.

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The Ring Tailed Mongoose lives only in one place. That place is Madagascar. Madagascar is an island off the coast of Africa. They live in the humid forests there. They live from sea level to about 2,000 meters above sea level. They are most abundant around 1,500 meters above sea level. They do well in the ecosystem because they can climb trees for fun. They can also climb them for safety.

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Author: Isaac T.

Published: 02/2009

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Sources: Name of article: Galidia elegans

 

Website: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Galidia_elegans.html Name of article: Malagasy Ring Tailed Mongoose Website: http://www.arkive.org/malagasy-ring-tailed-mongoose/galidia-elegans/ Name of article: Ring Tailed Mongoose Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring-tailed_Mongoose

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Photo Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stavenn_Galidia_elegans.jpg