Ring-tailed vontsira
The ring-tailed vontsira, locally still known as the ring-tailed mongoose (Galidia elegans ) is a euplerid in the subfamily Galidiinae, a carnivoran native to Madagascar.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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Island endemicIsland endemic animals are found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island. Animals or organisms that are indigenous to a place ar...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withRing-tailed mongooses have a long and slender body. Their head is rounded with a pointed snout. The body is dark red in color and the feet are black. As the name implies, their bushy tail is covered with black and red rings and is similar to the Red panda.
Ring-tailed mongooses are native to Madagascar. They live in humid lowland and montane forest, and dry deciduous forest in the west of their range.
Ring-tailed mongooses are very agile; they are very good climbers and adapt swimmers. They are quite playful and are active during the day. These animals are social and usually found in pairs with up to three offspring. During the night they usually sleep in tree cavities or in burrows which they dig. Scent marking is an important form of communication between Ring-tailed mongooses. Only males have anal sacs which they rub on branches, tree trunks, and rocks.
Ring-tailed mongooses are carnivores. Their diet consists mostly of small mammals, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, and eggs. However, they occasionally will also eat insects and fruit.
Little information is known about the mating system in these animals. Their mating season occurs from April to November. Females give birth to a single pup after a gestation period that lasts from 72 to 92 days. Pups reach adult size when they are one year old, and become reproductively mature in their second year.
Major threats to Ring-tailed mongooses include habitat loss and degradation, and hunting. Another serious threat to these animals is competition with small Indian civets, feral dogs, and cats.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Ring-tailed mongoose is unknown. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...