| Introduction | Mustelids | Viverrids | Herpestids | 
| Conservation Significance | References |

  
Introduction :

THE ORDER CARNIVORA is grouped into two suborders, three superfamilies and ten families (Wozencraft 1989a). The family Ailuridae which was treated as a separate family under the superfamily Ailuroidea represented by red or lesser panda Ailurus fulgens has been merged with the family Ursidae due to their close resemblance with each other. Similarly, many taxonomists placed mongoose and civets in a single family. However, most primary systematic studies have placed mongoose in a separate family, as they do not share any derived feature (Wozencraft 1984, Hunt 1987). In India the order Carnivora is represented by seven families.

As apparent from Table 1, though the members of the families Mustelidae, Viverridae and Herpestidae have different phylogenies, they look quite similar in external appearance. In terms of number of genus and species these groups constitute more than 50% of the order Carnivora (Table 2). Because of their small size, these groups along with the small cats and red panda are termed as small carnivores. In this volume, we restrict our discussion to the members of the families Mustelidae, Viverridae and Herpestidae only.

Table 2. Comparative account of number of genera and species belonging to the order Carnivora in respect to world distribution and occurrence in India

The members of the family Mustelidae are the most diverse group and may be paraphyletic (Wozencraft 1989a). The members of this group are characterised by the loss of the caranassial notch (on upper premolar- pm4), invariable loss of upper molar (m4)(Wortman 1901, Pocock 1941) and the enlargement of the anal sac (Wozencraft 1989a). They differ from Felidae by the absence of retractile claws and from the family Canidae by having a well developed first digit on the 

forefoot, well developed anal glands and by not having a deep chested body (Pocock 1941). In mustelids, the total length (head, body and tail) varies from 110 to 2100 mm and body weight varies from 70 gm in the case of least weasels Mustela nivalis to 37 kg in the case of sea otters Enhydra lutris. The difference in the size of sexes is characteristic of all mustelids, females are often larger. The mustelids are highly adaptive, terrestrial, arboreal or aquatic in nature and primarily flesh eaters. They are mainly solitary, with males and females getting together only for the purpose of reproduction (Kruska 1990). The family Mustelidae is subdivided into four subfamilies, Lutrinae, Melinae, Memphitinae and Mustelinae (Wozencraft 1989b). They occur throughout the world except Australia and Antarctica. In India the Mustelidae is represented by three subfamilies, Mustelinae, Melinae and Lutrinae with 16 species (Table 3).

The members of the family Viverridae are characterised by the presence of scent glands external to the anal region (Wozencraft 1989a). They differ from the family Herpestidae in the sense that their anus is not enclosed in the glandular pouch and they have a penieal gland in the genital region (Pocock 1941). Most of the members have retractile claws. Their ears are comparatively larger with well developed bursa on the external margin. They are distinguished in the external characters from the members of the family Felidae by the hind foot being five toed, the retention of the inter-ramal tuft of facial vibrissae and typically elongated muzzle. Many of the members have spots or stripes on the body and the tail has ring like marks (Pocock 1939). In viverrids, the total length (head, body and tail) varies from 320 to 1850 mm, where as body weight varies from around 600 gm in the case of African linsang Poiana richardsoni to 20 kg in the case of binturong Arctitis binturong. They are either terrestrial or arboreal in nature and have wide variety of diet including small mammals, birds, insects and fruits. Viverrids are mostly solitary and nocturnal. The family Viverridae is divided into four subfamilies Cryptoproctinae, Viverrinae, Hemigalinae and Paradoxurinae (Wozencraft 1989b). They are found only in tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. Of the six subfamilies, the viverrids in India are represented by two subfamilies Viverrinae and Paradoxurinae with nine species (Table 3).

Table 3. List of mustelids, viverrids and herpestids of India.

Beech marten 

Martes foina 

The members of the family Herpestidae are characterised by the uniquely derived nature of their anal sac and the structure of the auditory bulla (Wozencraft 1989a). They are distinguished from the members of the family Viverridae by the presence of a naked glandular pouch around the anus, with the anal glands opening into the pouch. They have long non-retractile and fossorial claws. The ears have no marginal bursa. The penis, which although short as compared to 

viverrids, has a well developed baculum and is without penieal glands (Pocock 1939). In herpestids, the total length (head, body and tail) varies from 200 to 1600 mm and the weight varies from around 340 gm in the case of dwarf mongoose Helogale parvula to 12 kg in the case of fossa Cryptoprocta ferox. The striped-necked mongoose Herpestes vitticollis is the largest of the Asiatic mongoose. The mongoose are terrestrial in nature and have a diverse diet including small mammals, birds, reptiles, crabs, fish and insects. They are mostly gregarious and a few are solitary too. The family Herpestidae is divided into three subfamilies Galiidinae, Herpestinae and Mungotinae (Wozencraft 1989b). They occur in most of Africa and Asia. In India the family Herpestidae is represented by subfamily Herpestinae with seven species (Table 3).

Following is a concise account of 32 species of mustelids, viverrids and herpestids found in India. All species have been described by referring Pocock (1933, 1939 and 1941), Roberts (1977), Prater (1971) and Phillips (1984). For depicting their conservation status their listing in the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Appendix of CITES, IUCN Red List category and outcome of the Conservation Assessment and Management Plan for Mammals of India (CAMP Workshop) (Molur et al. 1998) have been cited (Tables 4, 5 & 6). The range map for each species has been prepared on the basis of their known distribution as specified in Pocock (1939 and 1941), Corbet & Hill (1992), Wozencraft (1993) and associated references.

| Introduction | Mustelids | Viverrids | Herpestids | 
| Conservation Significance | References |