The ring-tailed vontsira (Galidia elegans), locally still known as the ring-tailed mongoose, is a euplerid in the subfamily Galidiinae, a carnivoran native to Madagascar.[2] It is the only species in the genusGalidia.
There is much disagreement about the placement of Madagascar's carnivores, including the ring-tailed vontsira, within the phylogenetic tree. A 2003 study reported evidence that the Malagasy Carnivora evolved from a single herpestid ancestor.[3]
A monotypic genus, Galidia literally means "little weasel", being a diminutive form of galē (γαλῆ, "weasel" in ancient Greek).[4] Its local common name is vontsira mena, ‘red vontsira’ in Malagasy.[5]
Descriptionedit
The ring-tailed vontsira is relatively small but is the largest member of the subfamily Galidiinae. It is usually 32 to 38 cm (12.5 to 15 in) long and weighs only 700 to 900 g (25 to 32 oz). Its body is long and slender, and the rounded head has a pointed snout. The body is a dark red color and the feet are black. As the name implies, its bushy tail is covered with black and red rings and is similar to the red panda.
Ring-tailed vontsira are very agile, and good climbers. They are quite playful and are active during the day. Their habitat consists of humid forests. Their diet is mostly of small mammals, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds and eggs, but they occasionally eat insects and fruit.[6]
The population of ring-tailed vontsira has decreased by 20% during the period 1989-1999 due to habitat loss.[7] Another problem is competition with the small Indian civet (Viverricula indica).[8]
Referencesedit
^Hawkins, F. (2015). "Galidia elegans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T39426A45204213. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T39426A45204213.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 532–628. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^Yoder, Anne D.; Burns, Melissa M.; Zehr, Sarah; Delefosse, Thomas; Veron, Geraldine; Goodman, Steven M.; Flynn, John J. (2003). "Single origin of Malagasy Carnivora from an African ancestor". Nature. 421 (6924): 734–737. Bibcode:2003Natur.421..734Y. doi:10.1038/nature01303. PMID 12610623. S2CID 4404379.
ring, tailed, vontsira, ring, tailed, vontsira, galidia, elegans, locally, still, known, ring, tailed, mongoose, euplerid, subfamily, galidiinae, carnivoran, native, madagascar, only, species, genus, galidia, montagne, ambre, national, park, conservation, stat. The ring tailed vontsira Galidia elegans locally still known as the ring tailed mongoose is a euplerid in the subfamily Galidiinae a carnivoran native to Madagascar 2 It is the only species in the genus Galidia Ring tailed vontsira Montagne d Ambre National Park Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Suborder Feliformia Family Eupleridae Genus GalidiaI Geoffroy Saint Hilaire 1837 Species G elegans Binomial name Galidia elegansSaint Hilaire 1837 Ring tailed vontsira range Skull and dentition as illustrated in Gervais Histoire naturelle des mammiferes Contents 1 Classification and etymology 2 Description 3 References 4 External linksClassification and etymology editThere is much disagreement about the placement of Madagascar s carnivores including the ring tailed vontsira within the phylogenetic tree A 2003 study reported evidence that the Malagasy Carnivora evolved from a single herpestid ancestor 3 A monotypic genus Galidia literally means little weasel being a diminutive form of gale galῆ weasel in ancient Greek 4 Its local common name is vontsira mena red vontsira in Malagasy 5 Description editThe ring tailed vontsira is relatively small but is the largest member of the subfamily Galidiinae It is usually 32 to 38 cm 12 5 to 15 in long and weighs only 700 to 900 g 25 to 32 oz Its body is long and slender and the rounded head has a pointed snout The body is a dark red color and the feet are black As the name implies its bushy tail is covered with black and red rings and is similar to the red panda Ring tailed vontsira are very agile and good climbers They are quite playful and are active during the day Their habitat consists of humid forests Their diet is mostly of small mammals invertebrates fish reptiles birds and eggs but they occasionally eat insects and fruit 6 The population of ring tailed vontsira has decreased by 20 during the period 1989 1999 due to habitat loss 7 Another problem is competition with the small Indian civet Viverricula indica 8 References edit Hawkins F 2015 Galidia elegans IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015 e T39426A45204213 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2015 4 RLTS T39426A45204213 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Wozencraft W C 2005 Order Carnivora In Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press pp 532 628 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 Yoder Anne D Burns Melissa M Zehr Sarah Delefosse Thomas Veron Geraldine Goodman Steven M Flynn John J 2003 Single origin of Malagasy Carnivora from an African ancestor Nature 421 6924 734 737 Bibcode 2003Natur 421 734Y doi 10 1038 nature01303 PMID 12610623 S2CID 4404379 Merriam Webster Unabridged Dictionary Blench Roger and Martin Walsh Faunal names in Malagasy their etymologies and implications for the prehistory of the East African coast 2009 Nowicki Kristen Galidia elegans ring tailed mongoose Animal Diversity Web Retrieved 2024 04 13 Nick Garbutt 2007 01 01 Mammals of Madagascar a complete guide Yale University Press ISBN 978 0300125504 OCLC 154689042 Nowicki Kristen Galidia elegans ring tailed mongoose Animal Diversity Web Retrieved 2022 08 02 External links editAnimal Diversity Web Ring tailed mongoose Malagasy ring tailed mongoose Galidia elegans ARKive org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ring tailed vontsira amp oldid 1218713433, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
