Giant-striped Mongoose
Encyclopedia
Grandidier's Mongoose also known as the Giant-striped Mongoose, is a small mammal
that lives only in a very small area of Southwestern Madagascar
, in areas of spiny forest vegetation.
It is a pale brown or grayish coloured mongoose
, with eight wide, dark stripes on its back and sides. Grandidier's Mongoose is larger than the related Broad-striped Malagasy Mongoose
, G. fasciata, and its stripes are not as wide.
The species is named after Alfred Grandidier
.
With a few exceptions, the majority of records of G. grandidieri come from a narrow zone at the western edge of the Mahafaly Plateau in the Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, making it the most range-restricted Madagascan carnivore.
Nocturnal and crepuscular
, this mongoose lives in pairs which produce one offspring a year, in the summer. They primarily hunt by searching through the ground litter and in rock crevices. The diet of Grandidier's Mongoose varies markedly between the dry and wet seasons. Whereas food consists mainly of invertebrates throughout the year, small vertebrates are the most important food with regard to biomass (comprising 58% of the prey biomass during the dry season and 80% of the biomass during the wet season). Grandidier's Mongoose weighs between 1.1 and 1.3 lb (500 to 600 g).
The species is sympatric with two other carnivores, the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) and the introduced Indian civet (Viverricula indica). However, there seems to be virtually no range or dietary overlap between these animals and Grandidier's mongoose. From sub-fossil evidence, it is clear that the region underwent drastic climatic change during the last 3000-2000 years. It is presumed that the distribution of this mongoose was notably broader and the proportion of prey types different in earlier times than today. Grandidier's Mongoose must have adapted to dryer conditions, which have resulted in its very limited distribution and the exploitation of notably small prey.
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
that lives only in a very small area of Southwestern Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, in areas of spiny forest vegetation.
It is a pale brown or grayish coloured mongoose
Mongoose
Mongoose are a family of 33 living species of small carnivorans from southern Eurasia and mainland Africa. Four additional species from Madagascar in the subfamily Galidiinae, which were previously classified in this family, are also referred to as "mongooses" or "mongoose-like"...
, with eight wide, dark stripes on its back and sides. Grandidier's Mongoose is larger than the related Broad-striped Malagasy Mongoose
Broad-striped Malagasy Mongoose
The Broad-striped Malagasy Mongoose, Galidictis fasciata, is a species of mongoose. It is a forest-dweller native to eastern Madagascar. The species contains two known subspecies: G. f. striata and G. f. fasciata...
, G. fasciata, and its stripes are not as wide.
The species is named after Alfred Grandidier
Alfred Grandidier
Alfred Grandidier was a French naturalist and explorer.From a very wealthy family, he and his brother, Ernest Grandidier , undertook a voyage around the world...
.
With a few exceptions, the majority of records of G. grandidieri come from a narrow zone at the western edge of the Mahafaly Plateau in the Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa, making it the most range-restricted Madagascan carnivore.
Nocturnal and crepuscular
Crepuscular
Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight, that is during dawn and dusk. The word is derived from the Latin word crepusculum, meaning "twilight." Crepuscular is, thus, in contrast with diurnal and nocturnal behavior. Crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright...
, this mongoose lives in pairs which produce one offspring a year, in the summer. They primarily hunt by searching through the ground litter and in rock crevices. The diet of Grandidier's Mongoose varies markedly between the dry and wet seasons. Whereas food consists mainly of invertebrates throughout the year, small vertebrates are the most important food with regard to biomass (comprising 58% of the prey biomass during the dry season and 80% of the biomass during the wet season). Grandidier's Mongoose weighs between 1.1 and 1.3 lb (500 to 600 g).
The species is sympatric with two other carnivores, the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) and the introduced Indian civet (Viverricula indica). However, there seems to be virtually no range or dietary overlap between these animals and Grandidier's mongoose. From sub-fossil evidence, it is clear that the region underwent drastic climatic change during the last 3000-2000 years. It is presumed that the distribution of this mongoose was notably broader and the proportion of prey types different in earlier times than today. Grandidier's Mongoose must have adapted to dryer conditions, which have resulted in its very limited distribution and the exploitation of notably small prey.