Salano

(Salanoia concolor)

Contents:

Taxonomy, Alternative Names, Range, Habitat, Description,

Diet, Behavior, Lifespan, Major Threats, Status, and Other Links

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Herpestidae

Subfamily: Galidiinae

Genus: Salanoia

Species: concolor

Alternative Names:

Malagasy Brown-tailed Mongoose

Range:

The salano lives on the northeastern part of the central plateau in northeastern Madagascar.

Habitat:

They are primarily terrestrial but will become arboreal in search of food and resting places. Salanos live in dense evergreen forests.

Description:

The salano is a type of mongoose.  Their fur is a brown color with pale or dark spots throughout.  Unlike other types of mongoose their tail is not ringed, but is the same  color as the rest of their body. They have short ears, a pointed muzzle, and their claws are not very curved.

Diet:

They are insectivores and occasionally eat fruits, rodents, small reptiles, and small amphibians.

Behavior:

The salano is diurnal and can choose to sleep either in trees or in ground burrows.

Reproduction:

Sometimes salanos are found in pairs, but for the most part they are found alone. The young are born in the summer.

Lifespan:

The wild lifespan of the salano is unknown.  The captive lifespan is 4 years.

Major Threats:

In the wild there are two major threats that are endangering this species.  These threats are habitat loss/degradation and changes of the native species dynamics/competitors.

Status:

The ICUN has this animal listed as vulnerable.

Other Solano Links:

Walker's Mammals of the World

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Lioncrusher's Domain

  For more information, e-mail the Small Carnivore Tag Education Liaison 

This page was created by Ashley Finsley, Pensacola Junior College, Zoo Tech Student, Fall 2003