Falanouc

The Falanouc is a rare mongoose-like mammal endemic Malagasy euplerid (a family of carnivoran mammals).^[2]

It is classified alongside its closest living relative, the Fanaloka, in the subfamily Euplerinae. The Falanouc has several peculiarities which merit its independent classification. It has no anal or perineal glands (unlike the Fanaloka), nonretractile claws, and a unique dentition: the canines and premolars are backwards-curving and flat. This is thought to be related to its prey, mostly invertebrates, such as worms, slugs, snails, and larvae.

It lives primarily in the lowland rainforests of the centre and northwest of its island. It is solitary and territorial, but whether nocturnal or diurnal is unknown. It is small (about 50 cm long with a 24 cm long tail) and shy (clawing, not biting in self-defence). It most closely resembles the mongooses with its long snout and low body, though its colouration is plain and brown (most mongooses have colouring schemes such as striping, banding, or other variations on the hands and feet).

Its life cycle displays periods of fat buildup during April and May, before the dry months of June and July. It has a brief courting period and weaning period, the young being weaned before the next mating season. Its reproductive cycle is fast. The offspring (one per litter) are born in burrows with opened eyes and can move with the mother through dense foliage at only two days old. In nine weeks, the already well-developed young are on solid food and shortly thereafter they leave their mothers. Though it is fast in gaining mobility (so as to follow its mother on forages), it grows at a slower rate than comparatively-sized carnivores.

References

Sources

• Macdonald, David (ed). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. (New York, 1984)

External links

• Eupleres goudotii - Animal Diversity Web
• Images and Video - ARKive.org