Falanouc
(Eupleres goudotii)

                                     Taxonomy               Common Names

                                     Description              Distribution and Habitat

                                     Diet                        Behavior 

                                     Reproduction           Status           

                                     Threats                   Links

Taxonomy: 

Kingdom Animalia

   Phylum Chordata

      Subphylum Vertebrata

         Superclass Tetrapoda

            Class Mammalia

                Order Carnivora

                   Family Viverridae

                      Subfamily Euplerinae

                         Genus Eupleres

                            Species goudotii

Subspecies

E.g. goudotii – Eastern Falanouc

E.g. major – Western Falanouc

Common Names:

        Falanouc

       Malagasy Mongoose

       Slender Fanalouc

       Small-Toothed Mongoose

Description:

The falanouc has a muscular body giving them a stocky appearance.  The hind legs are longer than the forelegs.  It has a long narrow head with a small pointed muzzle.  The tail of the falanouc is wide and cylindrical and is used to store fat in times of low food availability.  The pelage of the falanouc ranges in color from brown to grey and is dense with long guard hairs.  The eastern falanouc is fawn in color with a cream underbelly.  In the western falanouc the females are grey and the males are brown.  The teeth of the falanouc are short with large single cusp, similar to the teeth of the insectivores.  They have long claws for digging up prey.  The falanouc weighs about 5-10 lbs (2-4 kg).

Distribution and Habitat:

The falanouc is distributed throughout the lowland swamp and rainforest areas of northwestern and eastern Madagascar. 

Diet:

The falanouc feeds almost exclusively on earthworms.  They have been known to occasionally feed on other small invertebrates including insects and aquatic snails, frogs and small birds and mammals.  The falanouc will wade into water after prey.  They will also dig using their large claws to forage through leaf litter for food.     

Behavior:

The falanouc is nocturnal and solitary.  During the day they sleep in logs or rocky crevices. They are territorial using scent secreted from glands around their anus and neck to mark their territory. 

Reproduction: 

Falanouc are monogamous. The mating season for the falanouc occurs between July and August.  One to two young are born between November and January.  When the young are born they weigh about 5 oz. and are fully covered in hair and their eyes are open.  The young are foraging with their mothers within two days of birth.  The young are weaned by nine weeks of age. 

Status:

Because of human impacts on Madagascar the falanouc is considered endangered by IUCN and CITES lists it on Appendix II.  It is thought that there are only 2,500 mature individuals in the wild and their numbers continue to decline.  The falanouc is rare throughout its range. 

Threats:

Deforestation of the forests and draining of the marshlands are the major problems affecting the falanouc.  But they are also hunted food and preyed upon by domestic dogs.  Competition with introduced species may also be to blame for their decline.

Links: 

   Lioncrusher Domain - Falanouc facts

  Eupleres goudotii - Falanouc

 Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) - Falanouc (Eupleres goudotii)

 IUCN Red List of Endangered Species - Eupleres goudotii - Falanouc

For more information email the Small Carnivore TAG Education Liaison

Page created by Jessica Gose, PJC ZooTech Student Fall 2003