Native range:
The small Indian mongoose is native to northern Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (south to Sind on the west and Orissa on the east), Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, and southern China including Hainan Island.
Known introduced range:
The species has been introduced to (year of introduction in parentheses) Antigua, Barbados (1877). Beef Island, Buck Island (1910), Croatia (1910), Cuba (1866), Fiji (found on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu; introduced 1883), French Guiana, Grenada (1882).
Guadeloupe, Guyana, Hawai’I (found on Hawai‘I, Maui, Moloka‘I, and O‘ahu introduced 1883), Hispaniola (1895), Jamaica (1872), Japan (found on Okinawa and Amami; introduced 1910), Jost Van Dyke, La Desirade, Lavango, Mafia (Tanzania), Marie- Galante, Martinique, Nevis, Puerto Rico (1887), St. Croix (1884),St. John, St. Kitts (1884), St. Lucia, St. Martin (1888), St. Thomas, St. Vincent, Suriname (1900), Tortola, Trinidad (1870), Vieques, and Water Island (Nellis, 1989, Hays and Conant, 2007).
Introduction pathways to new locations:
Biological control: Introduced for biological control of rats and snakes in agricultural habitats, from which the animals spread throughout local areas within decades.
Local dispersal methods:
Natural dispersal (local) Other (local): Spread to neighbouring islands by cane planters.
Management information:
Physical: Trapping is commonly used to remove small Indian mongooses from sensitive areas. It is often very successful at removing animals in the short term. Unfortunately, trapping programmes need to be run almost constantly as mongooses re-colonise trapped areas very quickly (Roy et al. 2003; Hays and Conant, 2007).
Fencing has been proposed as a possible control method in Mauritius but predator proof fences are expensive and inflexible should the area that needs to be protected change (Roy et al. 2002).
Chemical;
Diphacinone anticoagulant poison has been used to control mongooses in Hawai’I (Hays et al. 2007). The use of this toxin has been considered in Mauritius but poisoning methods would have to be adapted to prevent poisoning of non-target species (Roy et al. 2002).
Integrated management: There is concern in Mauritius that removing mongooses without also removing cats and rats will be disastrous for native species because it may lead to increased rat and cat populations (Roy et al. 2002).
Nutrition:
Small Indian mongoose are generalist carnivores that thrive in human-altered habitats. Diet has not been investigated in the native range but a large number of studies have investigated diet in areas where the species has been introduced.
Small Indian mongoose diet normally consists of mammals, birds, herpetofauna, invertebrates and plant material. Proportions of these dietary items vary according to availability and location of the study.
Some populations are largely insectivorous; others may eat a diet largely consisting of fruit for part of the year (Hays and Conant, 2007).
This high level of dietary flexibility has contributed to the small Indian mongoose’s success as an invasive species.
Reproduction:
Placental, sexual. Breeds two or three times a year, no real season, though there are breeding peaks. Two litters of three youngs per female per year. Females can breed from the age of 10 months.
Lifecycle stages:
Gestation 42-50 days, weaning 5 weeks, sexual maturity 10 months, total life expectancy in wild animals 3-4 years.
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