Wildlifeof Thailand
Javan Mongoose
Herpestidae
Photo: Chung Bill Bill · CC BY 2.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Urva javanica
Basic stats
Diet
Small vertebrates, insects, crustaceans and fruit
Habitat
Scrub, grassland, farmland and open forest
Range
Mainland and island Southeast Asia
The Javan mongoose is a small, low-slung carnivore with grizzled brown fur, short legs, rounded ears and a tapering tail. It has often been combined with the small Indian mongoose, but current mammal taxonomy treats the Southeast Asian Urva javanica separately (Mammal Diversity Database; specialist mongoose revision).
It occupies scrub, grassland, farmland and open forest across mainland and island Southeast Asia. Usually active by day, it searches on the ground for rodents, reptiles, frogs, insects and crustaceans and also eats fruit. Flexible habitat use brings it near people (Animal Diversity Web; taxonomic revision). It is Nationally Least Concern (Thailand Red Data 2025).
Quick answers
- What does the Javan Mongoose eat?
- Small vertebrates, insects, crustaceans and fruit
- What habitat does the Javan Mongoose live in?
- Scrub, grassland, farmland and open forest
- Where is the Javan Mongoose found?
- Mainland and island Southeast Asia