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   Herpestes javanicus (mammal) français 
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         General Impact

    The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) has had a major impact on native species in the areas where it has been introduced. In most cases the native wildlife in these areas evolved in the absence of predatory mammals so they are particularly threatened by mongoose predation. Species considered to have been driven extinct through mongoose predation are the barred-wing rail (see Nesoclopeus poecilopterus in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) in Fiji and the Hispaniola racer (Alsophis melanichnus) (Hays and Conant, 2007). The critically endangered and almost extinct Jamaica petrel (see Pterodroma caribbaea in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) suffered drastic decline in numbers in the 19th century presumably due to predation by mongoose and rats (BirdLife International 2004). Mongooses have also been implicated in the decline of many other bird, reptile and mammal species. Mongooses also eat invertebrates but the impact of this predation on invertebrate populations has not been studied. On St. John Island in the US Virgin Islands H. javanicus is a major predator of hawksbill turtle eggs (see Eretmochelys imbricata in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) and trapping around vulnerable beaches led to much greater breeding success for the turtles (Coblentz and Coblentz, 1985). Mongooses on Mauritius have been blamed for the extirpation of introduced game birds and the Audobon’s shearwater (Puffinus l’herminieri) as well as contributing to the decline of endemic species such as the endangered pink pigeon (see Nesoenas mayeri in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) (Roy et al. 2002). In Japan the species has been shown to have a strong negative effect on the endangered Amami rabbit (see Pentalagus furnessi in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) (Watari et al. 2008). Small Indian mongooses are also a vector for rabies.



         Location Specific Impacts:
    Viti Levu Is. (Fiji) English 
    Predation: are believed to be largely responsible for the extirpation of the two largest skink, Emoia nigra and E. trossula from two of the largest Fijian islands, Viti Levu and vanua levu. The species which are still to be found on mongoose free islands, disappeared from these islands a few years after the arrival of the mongoose (Hays and Conant 2007). There is circumstantial evidence for implicating small Indian mongooses to the decline of several species of ground-dwelling birds (Pernetta and Watling 1978).
    Four birds, the banded rail (Rallus philippensis, sooty rail (Porzana tabuensis, white-browed rail Poliolimnas cinereus and the purple swamp hen (Porphyrio porphyrio which are present on mongoose free islands were extirpated from the Fijian islands (Hays and Conant 2007).
    Fiji English 
    Predation: Small Indian mongooses (Herpestes javanicus) are believed to be largely responsible for the extirpation of the two largest skink, Emoia nigra and E. trossula from two of the largest Fijian islands, Viti Levu and vanua levu. The species which are still to be found on mongoose free islands, disappeared from these islands a few years after the arrival of the mongoose (Hays and Conant 2007).
    Grenada English 
    Predation: Chapter III of the 'Inventory and status of the natural and cultural resource base of the The National Parks and Protected Areas System Plan' reports that Garman's ground lizard - Ameiva ameiva or zaggada, a handsome blue coloured lizard, (male) now found only in Grenada and the Grenadines was almost brought to extinction by the mongoose.
    Dasyprocta liporina - agouti - This agouti is extinct on the Island due to overhunting and the aggressive mongoose (Beresford Wilcox, Pers. Comm.)
    Guadeloupe français  English 
    Disease transmission: The Mongoose is a reservoir and vector of pathogenic forms of the bacteria Leptospira interrogans responsible for leptospirosis disease, which has a rate of prevalence in Martinique and Guadeloupe forty times higher than in metropolitan France (Lorvelec et al., 2004).

    Reduction in native biodiversity: The mongoose has contributed to the demise of the burrowing owl (Speotyto cunicularia), the extinction of the lizard Ameiva juliae and the sharp decline in populations of two species of snakes (Liophis juliae and Alsophis antillensis) and the Mabuya skink, (Mabuya mabuya) (Lorvelec et al., 2004) .
    Fajou Is. (Guadeloupe) English 
    Predation: The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) eradication, and the sharp decline in the ship rat population, ended the destruction of hawksbill turtle nests (see Eretmochelys imbricata in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species), and led to a re-colinisation of the dryer parts of the island by the clapper rail (Rallus longirostris), which had been strictly confined to the mangroves. The abundance indicies of the clapper rail and the terresrial crab Cardisoma guanhumi increased. More data is required to test the actual relationship between these increases and the reduction in alien mammal populations (Lorvelec et al.. 2004).
    Amami Is. (Japan) English 
    Agricultural: The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) has a large impact on crops (taro, sweet potato, melon, watermelon, loquat, etc.) and poultry in farmland. The economic cost of the damage rapidly in-creased in 1994 (USD7000), 1995 (USD32,000), 1996 (USD64,000), 1997 (USD110,000), 1998 (USD100,000) and 1999 (USD80,000).

    Predation: The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) has had a predatory impact on native animals in the mountainous areas of the island where it has advanced since 1986. Threatened native species that have been recorded in the diet of the mongoose include: 'Endangered' Ryukyu rat (seeDiplothrix legatus), the Ryukyu spiny rat (see Tokudaia osimensis), Amami rabbit (see Pentalagus furnessi); the 'Endangered' Ryukyu woodcock (see Scolopax mira; the 'Vulnerable' Amami jay (see Garrulus lidthi), 'Near threatened' Ryukyu robin (Erithacus komadori) In IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; reptiles Japalura polygonata, Barbour's Eyelid Skink (Eumeces barbouri), Calliophis japonicus japonicus and Cyclophiops semicarinatus; and the mammal Crocidura horsfieldii watasei (Yamada, 2002).
    Martinique français  English 
    Disease transmission: The Mongoose is a reservoir and vector of pathogenic forms of the bacteria Leptospira interrogans responsible for leptospirosis disease, which has a rate of prevalence in Martinique and Guadeloupe forty times higher than in metropolitan France (Lorvelec et al., 2004).

    Threat to endangered species: The introduction of the mongoose is particularly cited as leading to a scarcity of certain species of herpetofauna and bird nesting on the ground or close to the ground, such as the endangered white-breasted thrasher (see Ramphocinclus brachyurus in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species).



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