Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Specy

Western falanouc

Mammals

The western falanouc, Eupleres major, is a rare mongoose-like carnivoran endemic to northwestern Madagascar and a member of the family Eupleridae. In 2010 Goodman and Helgen showed with morphological evidence that it is a species separate from the eastern falanouc. It is larger and darker brown, with a more robust skull, larger auditory bullae and bigger, naked digital pads, and it eats mostly worms, snails and slugs. It lives in dry deciduous forest at the edge of wetlands and in flooded palm savanna, including Ankarafantsika National Park, and shows nocturnal to crepuscular activity. It is listed as Endangered by the IUCN because hunting, habitat loss and introduced carnivores have cut its population sharply.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Insectivore 1
Population Trend
Decreasing 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 1
Threats
Biological Resource Use 1
Threats
Invasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes and Diseases 1
Relationship to People
Hunted or Fished 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Conservation Status
Endangered 1
Body Size Band
Medium 2
Activity Pattern
Nocturnal 1
Activity Pattern
Crepuscular 1
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Eupleridae, Taxa
Source Western falanouc (Wikipedia)

In Biome

Source Western falanouc (Wikipedia)

In Ecosystem

Source Western falanouc (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Western falanouc (Wikipedia)Lead
Quote, Lead
The western falanouc (Eupleres major) is a rare mongoose-like mammal endemic to Madagascar
Sources
1. Western falanouc (Wikipedia)
  • Lead
    The western falanouc (Eupleres major) is a rare mongoose-like mammal endemic to Madagascar
  • Conservation
    E. major is currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.
  • Lead, population trend
    the population has dramatically decreased by 50% due to various factors such as hunting and ongoing habitat conversion and fragmentation
  • Lead, diet
    has a diet consisting mainly of invertebrates such as worms, snails, and slugs
  • Description and range
    The western falanouc has been known to show nocturnal to crepuscular activity.
  • Ecology
    They inhabit dry deciduous forest on the edges of wetlands as well as flooded palm savanna near the forest.
  • Conservation, threats
    The western falanouc is likely susceptible to hunting pressures, and habitat loss through logging, forest fires and charcoal production.
  • Conservation, threats (2)
    Threats from invasive species are suspected, but the severity is unknown.
  • Conservation, cites appendix
    it is not covered by CITES like the eastern falanouc is
  • Lead, relationship to people
    The main predators of the western falanouc are feral dogs and humans.
View the Source
2. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Eupleres goudotii
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyPhysical Description, range mass (account covers both falanouc forms)
Quote, Physical Description, range mass (account covers both falanouc forms)
Range mass 2 to 4 kg
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.