The head of the Javan ferret-badger is small with a narrow, blunt snout, long whiskers, and large eyes. The body is low-slung with brown silky fur tinged with red and in some lights looks tawny or greyish. The back of the head and throat are darker brown and there are white markings on the face, neck, throat, chest, and abdomen.
Javan ferret-badgers are native to the islands of Java and Bali in Indonesia. In the wild, they were recorded in just 30 localities in the Province of Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, and Bali. The exact range of these animals is unknown, but they are present in hilly and mountainous areas and may also occur at lower altitudes. In western Java, they have been observed in Mount Halimun Salak National Park and in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park. In Bali, they have been recorded in forests and in rubber plantations not far from human habitations.
Javan ferret-badgers are fossorial animals that make use of pre-existing burrows in the forest floor. They are often found in dense undergrowth and may scramble about in trees and bushes. Javan-ferret badgers are social and live in small groups of adults and juveniles. These groups are usually active during the nighttime hours spending most of the time searching for food.
Javan ferret-badgers are mainly carnivores and scavengers. They eat small animals, birds, amphibians, eggs, carrion, and invertebrates. They may also supplement their diet with fruit.
The information about the mating system and reproductive behavior of the Javan ferret-badger is scarce.
Much of Java's primary forest where this species occurs has been lost due to fragmentation and degradation. This could affect the populations of these animals, however, Javan ferret-badgers are thought to be at least partially adaptable to habitat changes. Over a long period (from 2011 to 2020), Javan ferret-badgers were observed offered for sale in wildlife markets on Java and Bali, and on several online platforms.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Javan ferret-badger total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.