What is Herpestes or Neola?
Classification:
Phylum Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Genus: Herpestes.
Habitat: It is a fossorial carnivora abundantly found in Asian and African countries. It is commonly called mongoose in English and neola in Hindi.Herpestes is a genus within the mongoose family Herpestidae. Several species in the family are known as slender mongooses. It is the type genus of the family, and comprises 5-6 living species, each with several subspecies. Fossil remains of three prehistoric species were excavated in France, and described in 1853.
Habits :
(i) It is a burrowing mammal.
(ii) It is nocturnal in activity
(iii) It is cursorial and digitigrade.
(iv) It feeds on small mammals, reptiles, birds and eggs.
(v) Sexes are dioecious and show sexual dimorphism. Male has a copulatory organ, penis and scrotal sac, whereas female has thoracic mammy. Fertilization is internal. Female is viviparous.
External characters:
(1) Body is divisible into head, neck, trunk and tail.
(ii) Its body is covered with greyish fur.
(iii) Head bears small snout, ears, small eyes and nose.
(iv) Fore limbs and hind limbs have five digits with fussorial claws.
(v) Tail is elongated and bush.
