Biology and Impacts of Pacific Island Invasive Species. 1. A Worldwide Review of Effects of the Small Indian Mongoose, Herpestes javanicus (Carnivora: Herpestidae)1

Headnote

Abstract: The small Indian mongoose, Herpestes javanicus (E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1818), was intentionally introduced to at least 45 islands (including 8 in the Pacific) and one continental mainland between 1872 and 1979. This small carnivore is now found on the mainland or islands of Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. In this review we document the impact of this species on native birds, mammals, and herpetofauna in these areas of introduction.

The small Indian mongoose has been introduced to numerous islands, including eight in the Pacific. Beyond its native range in southern Asia, this species now occurs on islands or mainlands elsewhere in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. Its negative effects on native biota of these areas are a concern to natural-area managers.

NAME

Herpestes javanicus (E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1818)

Synonym: Herpestes auropunctatus (Hodgson, 1836)

Common names: Small Indian mongoose, small Asian mongoose, Javan mongoose

DESCRIPTION

The small Indian mongoose, Herpestes javanicus (E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1818) (Figure 1), typically has an adult body mass in the range of 300 to 900 g and a body length from 500 to 650 mm (Nellis 1989). It has the slender body shape typical of the herpestid family, with short legs, short brown fur, and a tail that makes up roughly 40% of the animal's total length. Dentition is 3:1:4: 2, with a wide carnassial shear region. Females have 36 chromosomes and males have 35, because the Y chromosome has translocated onto an autosome (Fredga 1965).

A more complete species description may be found in Nellis (1989).

DIET

No study has yet been done on the diet of the small Indian mongoose in its native range (Figure 2). Table 1 summarizes studies of small Indian mongoose diets in various areas of introduction. In all these studies, except that from Korcula, Croatia, this species of mongoose was found to be an omnivore that is primarily insectivorous and secondarily a hunter of small vertebrates.

The most extensive of these studies was that of Gorman (1975), who examined 4,404 mongoose scats on Viti Levu, Fiji. He found that diets varied according to habitat. For example, crabs were the main food item in mangrove forests, rats were most common in cane-field scats, and cockroaches were...