Mammals · Carnivora · Herpestidae

Indian Gray Mongoose

Urva edwardsii

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Indian grey mongoose is a small carnivore of southern Asia, very common in farmland and on the edges of towns. Grey and grizzled from the banding on each hair, it is diurnal, agile and essentially solitary. It feeds on rodents, insects, eggs, reptiles and fruit. It is famous for its ability to take on venomous snakes, the Indian cobra included: it combines extraordinary reflexes, a thick coat it can raise, and modified acetylcholine receptors that reduce the effect of the venom.

Weight

900 g – 1.7 kg

Size

36 cm – 45 cm

Lifespan

7 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestGrasslandCarnivore Diurnal Solitary Temperate forest Grassland Mammal

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Fun facts

GeneralFamous for taking on cobras: its agility and a partial resistance to the venom protect it.
Its nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have a slightly different shape that stops cobra venom from binding, which gives it a partial resistance that does not make it immune.
It inspired Rudyard Kipling's character Rikki-Tikki-Tavi in The Jungle Book.