MONGOOSE

Common Name: Small Indian Mongoose

Scientific Name: Herpestes auropunctatus auropunctatus
Bangla Name: Choto Benji

The commonest of the mongooses, found equally in the cities, villages and forests, and is the smallest of the three species present in Bangladesh. Uniformly dark brown, with a fine coat speckled with yellow. Short limbs and long bushy tail. Head and body 30 cm, tail 25 cm long and weighs less than a kilo. Small stature and soft silky fur distinguishes it from the others. One of the commonest mammals of Bangladesh.

Common Name: Indian Grey Mongoose

Scientific Name: Herpestes edwards nyula
Bangla Name: Bara Benji

A common countryside mongoose, much larger, heavier and lighter coloured than the small one. Yellow and whitish rings alternating with each other, giving the animal a grizzled coat and serving as a species-character. It has a long gradually tapering bushy tail with whitish tip. Head and body 45 cm, the tail another 45 cm and weighs 1.5 kg It is sexually dimmorphic in size and weight. It is widely distributed, commonly found in the village and forests, occasionally met in the towns.

Common Name: Crab-eating mongoose

Scientific Name: Herpertes urva
Bangla Name: Kakrabhuk Benji

The largest, heviest and most colourful of our mongooses. Overall body colour is grey, yellow head and neck, from the angle of mouth on each side there is a broad white stripe which runs through the side of the neck and tapers over the shoulder - this is the most species-specific character. The limbs are dark, hair long and coarse with white tips, tail fluffy and greyish. Head and body is 50 cm, and without the hairs at the end the tail is 30 cm, it weighs 2 kg. It is very uncommon and probably restricted only in the eastern hilly forests.