Narrow-striped mongooses are now classified as endangered by IUCN. The range of this animal is less than 500 square km, and is extremely fragmented. The population is continuing to decline, and the quality of the habitat is also declining. There is very little disturbance to this animal by direct human contact, but as human populations grow, clearing of land for grazing is destroying the habitat of this mongoose.
This species of mongoose is not listed under the CITES index or the US ESA.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable
A member of the civet family, Cryptoprocta ferox, also called a fossa, is a possible predator of M. decemlineata
Known Predators:
Narrow-striped mongooses have a length of 250 to 350 mm from the nose to the base of the tail, and a tail length ranging from 230 to 270 mm. These animals weigh between 600 and 700 g.
The pelage is generally gray-beige to gray with 8 to 10 dark stripes on the back and flanks. These stripes give the animal its species name, decemlineata. The tail of the mongoose is usually bushy and squirrel-like, with rings of dark color. The feet do not have hair on them, and the digits are partially webbed.
Scent glands can be found on the head and neck, and these are used for marking. Females have one pair of mammae located in the lower abdomen.
Range mass: 600 to 700 g.
Range length: 250 to 350 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Nothing is known about longevity in narrow-striped mongooses. As the only member of their genus, it is difficult to use other related species to speculate on the possible longevity of these animals.
Narrow-striped mongooses are known only from the dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar. In the summer (the wet season) nights are often spent in tree holes, in the winter (the dry season) they can be found nesting in ground burrows.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; scrub forest
Mungotictis decemlineata is found in the Ethiopian region, exclusively in southwestern and western Madagascar, off the eastern coast of Africa. The species is found only in the Menabe region of the island on the western coast (19 degrees to 21 degrees south lattitude).
There was an unconfirmed sighting around the Lac Tsimanampetsotsa area on the southwestern side of the island (24 degrees 8 minutes south and 43 degrees 46 minutes east). This sighting occurred in 1986, when Wozencraft reported seeing an animal that looked like M. decemlineata, but was colored differently. However, Wozencraft was not sure of the animal's identity.
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: island endemic
Narrow-striped mongooses are insectivores, but may also be found eating invertebrates, small vertebrates, and bird eggs. They forage alone or in pairs covering about 1.3 square km. When feeding on eggs or invertebrates, these animals will lie on one side with the item held in all four feet. They will then swiftly expel the item onto a hard surface repeatedly until broken and eat the contents.
Animal Foods: mammals; reptiles; eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Narrow-striped mongooses are predators of a wide variety of prey including bird eggs.
No information could be found on economic importance of narrow-striped mongooses.
No information could be found on economic importance of narrow-striped mongooses.
Little is known about communication in narrow-striped mongooses. However, the presence of scent glands suggests that chemical communication may be important in maintaining group cohesion and identifying territories.
As social, diurnal animals, it is likely that there is a well developed system of visual signals, such as body posture, which communicate intent. Tactile communication is probably important between mates, as well as between parents and their offspring. It is also likely that these mongooses use some vocalizations, although such communication has not been reported.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Other Communication Modes: scent marks
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
The Lac Tsimanampetsotsa area seems to be marginal habitat for this mongoose, but research within the reserve shows it is thriving. Trapping sites outside of the reserve area show that grazing lands do not suit Malagasy narrow-striped mongooses.
This species is monogamous. The mature males and females pair up in the summer for mating.
Mating System: monogamous
Breeding months are from December to April, with a peak in the summer months of February and March. The gestation period in this mongoose is between 90 and 105 days, with one young produced. Young weigh about 50 g at birth and are usually weaned in 2 months. Sexual maturity is reached at 2 years.
Breeding interval: Malgasy narrow-striped mongooses breed annually.
Breeding season: Breeding months are from December to April, peaking in February and March.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Range gestation period: 90 to 105 days.
Average weaning age: 2 months.
Average time to independence: 24 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous
Average birth mass: 50 g.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 742 days.
As mammals, M. decemlineata provide the young with milk, frooming, and protection. Nothing more is known about parental care in narrow-striped mongooses. Based on their monogamous breeding system, it is likely that both parents are involved in caring for young.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; altricial ; pre-fertilization (Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female)
This species can be found in the Madagascar succulent woodlands ecoregion, which comprises a mosaic of succulent xeric adapted plants and deciduous forests that represent critical habitats for many species of animals and plants restricted to the western region of Madagascar. The succulent woodland ecoregion exhibits a tropical dry climate with a distinct dry season between May and October. During the wet season, November to April, rainfall may reach 750 millimetres (mm), within a yearly range of 575 mm to 1330 mm.
The geology of the western part of the ecoregion comprises unconsolidated sands on the coast and Tertiary limestones and sandstones inland. In the southern part of the ecoregion, there are also metamorphic and igneous basement rocks. The soils are generally sandy with richer alluvial soils around river areas. The flora species often have water storage adaptations, stem photosynthesis, and remain without leaves for long periods. Forests of the ecoregion may reach 15 m in height, with the endemic baobabs (Bombaceae family) Adansonia za and A. grandidieri as distinctive emergent species. Other canopy species belong to the families Euphorbiaceae and Leguminosae including several endemic species of Pachypodium. The shrub layer consists of the families Sapindaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Anacardiaceae, and Burseraceae.
Five mammals are endemic to this ecoregion: narrow striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata decemlineata), pale fork-marked lemur (Phaner furcifer pallescens), the giant jumping rat, Berthe's mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae) and the red-tailed sportive lemur (Lepilemur ruficaudatus). Near-endemics include the large-eared tenrec (Geogale aurita), the lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi), and Coquerel's dwarf lemur (Mirza coquerli). Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi), and the red-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufus) are both found in this ecoregion. Several animal species have the entirety of their very localized ranges within this ecoregion.
Among the bird taxa, Appert's greenbul (Xanthomixis apperti) and the white-breasted mesite (Mesitornis variegata), are considered endemic to this ecoregion. The following species are near-endemic: Madagascar teal (Anas bernieri), Madagascar plover (Charadrius thoracicus), and long-tailed ground-roller (Uratelornis chimaera). Out of the above birds, one is threatened (Madagascar teal), and three are considered vulnerable (white-breasted mesite, long-tailed ground-roller, Madagascar plover). The red-capped coua (Coua ruficeps) is found throughout this ecoregion.
Some of the ecoregion endemic reptiles include Oplurus cuvieri, Chalarodon madagascariensis, and the gecko Phelsuma standingi. Pyxis planicauda has a narrow distribution range within the ecoregion. One gecko species, Paroedura vazimba, is only known from Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park. A least two frog species are endemic to this region: the hyperollid Heterixalus luteostriatus and the mycrohylid Dyscophus insularis. The rare snake Liophidium chabaudi occurs in this ecoregion, as well as numerous other species with limited distributions such as Mabuya tandrefana, Furcifer antimena, and Brookesia brygooi.
There are exactly six anuran species found in the Madagascar succulent woodlands: Antsouhy tomato frog (Dyscophus insularis); Brown rainfrog (Scaphiophryne brevis); Dueril's bright-eyed frog (Boophis tephraeomystax); Goudot's bright-eyed frog (Boophis goudotii); Madagascar bullfrog (Boophis tephraeomystax); and Mocquard's rainfrog (Scaphiophryne calcarata).
The narrow-striped mongoose or narrow-striped vontsira (Mungotictis decemlineata) is a member of the family Eupleridae endemic to Madagascar. It inhabits the western Madagascar succulent woodlands and northern Madagascar spiny thickets in western and southwestern Madagascar, where it lives from sea level to about 125 m (410 ft) between the Tsiribihina and Mangoky rivers.[2] In Malagasy it is called bokiboky (pronounced "Boo-ky Boo-ky").[3] It is the only species in genus Mungotictis.
Galidia decemlineata was the scientific name used by Alfred Grandidier in 1867 for a mongoose collected on the west coast of Madagascar.[4] It was placed in the genus Mungotictis by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1915.[5]
The narrow-striped mongoose is part of the Malagasy carnivore family Eupleridae that forms a monophyletic clade. It shares a common ancestor with sister clades of the Feliformia.[6]
The narrow-striped mongoose is diurnal and lives in matriarchal family groups that practice cooperative rearing of young. Usually, the young of the alpha female will get the most care, and often the lower ranking females' young is neglected to the point of abandonment.
The narrow-striped mongoose demonstrates two unique social behaviours. Females form home ranges in their habitat, where 1-3 females form a stable social unit with their offspring. Males also form their own social units with 2-4 adult males. The male units have a large home range, which often overlap with at least 3 female social units, where mates find one another.[7]
The narrow-striped mongoose creates small nests in trees and brush, and has been known to share trees with Lepilemur species, with which it apparently has little or no interaction. Results of a few studies suggest that the narrow-striped mongoose is primarily insectivorous, but eats also bird eggs and a variety of small animals including rodents, birds, snakes, and even small lemur species such as the gray mouse lemur.[3]
Males often mate with more than one female and are considered polygamous. Females may also mate with more than one male. Narrow-striped mongooses of neighbouring units are closely related, with females more closely related than males, most likely because females disperse in a smaller area. Females give birth to one offspring per season, which is usually born at the end of the dry season between October and December.
If the cub dies, they give birth to another one by February or March. Many offspring do not survive. There is about a 28% success rate of young surviving, and it is often the oldest offspring of the most dominant female that will prevail.[7] The gestation period lasts 74–106 days.[8]
The narrow-striped mongoose forages in top soil, ground litter and rotten wood from fallen trees. A study in the Kirindy Forest revealed that its diet consists foremost of invertebrates. It feeds on arthropods, insect larvae, gastropods. Remains of reptile eggs, bones and feathers were also found in scat collected.[9]
Air-dried scat was used to determine preferences in the diet of the narrow-striped mongoose. Evidence showed that its diet included reptile egg membrane, bones, feathers and fragments of arthropods. Invertebrates were its main source of food during the dry season of May to August and the wet season of January to March in the Kirindy Forest. The Jaccard index was used to determine which prey items and arthropods it preferred to eat during each season of the year. The results indicated that it consumes any food that was available; it was not selective towards any particular prey item. Insect larva was a main part of its diet. It forages in top soil, ground litter, and rotten wood from fallen trees, which shows how insect larvae could be considered a staple part of its diet. Gastropoda were also found as a main source of food during rainy seasons.[9]
The narrow-striped mongoose is currently classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List because it occurs in a severely fragmented area and is threatened by habitat loss due to logging and conversion to agriculturally used land.[2] The western dry forests are both highly fragmented and under higher human pressure than the eastern rain forests. The main cause of decimation of dry deciduous forest in Madagascar is slash-and-burn agriculture by subsistence farmers, but other causes include logging for wild honey and lumber.
The narrow-striped mongoose or narrow-striped vontsira (Mungotictis decemlineata) is a member of the family Eupleridae endemic to Madagascar. It inhabits the western Madagascar succulent woodlands and northern Madagascar spiny thickets in western and southwestern Madagascar, where it lives from sea level to about 125 m (410 ft) between the Tsiribihina and Mangoky rivers. In Malagasy it is called bokiboky (pronounced "Boo-ky Boo-ky"). It is the only species in genus Mungotictis.
