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Mongoose (beji)
small, carnivorous, terrestrial Old World mammals of the family Herpestidae,
order Carnivora, occurring in Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia and
Far East, with one species extending into South Spain. They occupy various
habitats from desert to savannah and forest. They are agile, active mammals
with long faces and bodies, short legs, small rounded ears, and long bushy
tails. Their hair is coarse and shaggy. Body length ranges from 50 to
100 cm including the tail, which is about as long as the head and body.
Unlike civets,
they lack scent glands; but have a large anal scent sac, and use odour
to mark their home ranges. Most species are solitary.
Contrary to popular belief, mongooses are not immune
to snake venom; instead, they rely on their skill, agility and thick fur
to avoid being bitten. The common Indian mongoose, Herpestes edwardsi,
is known for its ability to kill snakes, including cobras. When attacking
a snake, the mongoose provokes it to strike repeatedly, avoiding it by
agile dodging; when the snake is exhausted the mongoose seizes its head
in its jaws and crushes the skull. Skill in evading the snake is learned,
and young mongooses often die of snakebite. However, ingested snake venom
is harmless to the mongoose, even if it eats the snake's head and venom
glands.
The Indian mongoose is easily tamed and is often kept
as a pet and a destroyer of household vermin. Imported into the West Indies
to kill rats, it destroyed most of the small ground-living native fauna.
Because of their destructiveness, it is illegal to import mongooses into
the United States, even for zoos. The ancient Egyptians domesticated the
Egyptian Grey Mongoose, or Ichneumon, H. ichneumon, which they
considered sacred. The marsh mongoose, Atilax paludinosus, lives
near waterbodies in Africa and dives for food. Mongooses are classified
into 12 genera. Bangladesh has three species under the genus Herpestes,
of which 2 are threatened, one has no immediate threat. The species profile
of the mongooses of Bangladesh is given below:
Common Mongoose (bad beji) a vulnerable yellowish grey mongoose, Herpestes edwardsi, has alternate light and dark rings on hairs, tail is tipped with white or yellowish red. Winter coat is somewhat darker. Head and body length is about 45 cm, tail is of equal length. Weight is about 1.4 kg. It takes shelter under rocks or bushes, sometimes occupies termite mounds or digs hole. The mongoose hunts singly or in pairs, rarely in families, on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and all kinds of insects. It rarely feeds on birds' eggs, carrion and also fruits and roots, sometimes becomes habitual poultry thieves in towns and villages. The mongoose breeds round the year; 3 litters may be produced in a year. The gestation period is about 60 days. It lives in open lands, scrubs and cultivation and is widely distributed in the country. Habitat loss and killing as a pest are the main threats to this species. It is also found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Iraq and Turkey.
Crab-eating Mongoose
(kakdabhuk beji) an endangered, large, dusky iron-grey mongoose,
Herpestes urva; a white stripe running from the angle of the mouth
along each side of the neck to the shoulders. Fur is long, coarse and
somewhat ragged; long light tips to the hairs paling the general tone;
wooly under-fur dark brown at the base and pale brownish yellow at the
tips. Head and body length is 45-50 cm; tail is without hair at the end
and is 25-30 cm in length. Weight is 1.8 to 2.3 kg. The mongoose is an
expert swimmer and diver; it feeds mainly on frogs, fishes and crabs;
hunts along the banks of streams. It squirts out a fetid fluid as a means
of defence. Its breeding habits are not known. It lives near the waterbodies
in the hilly areas of the SE. Habitat loss is the main threat. It is also
found in India (northeastern part), Nepal, Myanmar, China (southern part)
and Malaysia (northern part).
Small Indian Mongoose
(beji/nakul) a small-sized mongoose, Herpestes jaranicus,
with a short tail (tail is shorter than the body), and olive-brown, gold-flecked
and soft silky fur. It lives in holes burrowed by itself in bushes, hedges
and cultivated fields. It is a cautious diurnal creature generally remain
around the cover. Its presence can be detected by the worn tracks that
it leaves along the hedges. It uses the same path day after day. It feeds
on rats, mice, snakes, scorpions, centpedes, wasps and insects of all
kinds. It breeds round the year; 2-3 litters are produced in a year. The
newborn young are practically hairless, and of a dark mouse colour. The
eyes are opened on the 16-17th day after birth. The species is widely
distributed in the country and has no immediate threat. It is also found
in India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Turkey. [Md Anwarul
Islam]
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