Evidence for the presence of a second species of mongoose in the Fiji Islands

Abstract

The small Indian Mongoose Herpestes javanicus was introduced in the late nineteenth centure into Fiji and is now found throughout the two main islands of Fiji (Viti Levu and Vanua Levu) and on another 11 small outsr islands. When trapping mongoose as part of an investigation into the spread of leptospirosis around Suva, six large red-coloured mongoose were also captured. The body measurements (weight, length and hind-foot size) of these red-coloured mongoose were significantly larger than a random sample of the grey-coloured mongoose H. javanicus normally seen. To clarify whether the red-coloured mongoose was a different species or just a different colour morph of H. javanicus, mitochondrial cytochrome B cytb DNA sequences were determined from muscle tissue of four red-coloured Individuals. Phylogenetic analyses using cytb sequences show that while the red-coloured mongoose belongs to an Asian clade, it is not H. javanicus or H. edwardsi. Further research is needed to determine the identity and origin of the red-coloured mongoose and to ascertain its prevalence in Fiji.