Geographic Range
Javan ferret-badgers,
Melogale orientalis
, have a very limited range, occurring only on the Indonesian islands of Java and
Bali. Records have documented Javan ferret-badgers in the hills and mountains of both
islands, but not the plains. There are possibly two subspecies of Javan ferret-badgers,
with
M. orientalis orientalis
inhabiting eastern Java and
M. orientalis sundaicus
inhabiting western Java.
- Other Geographic Terms
- island endemic
Habitat
There are very few reported sightings of Javan ferret-badgers in the wild. All records
report sightings in forests, but the species does not appear to be dependent on primary
forest. Some sightings have been in secondary forest and rubber plantations. Other
records show Javan ferret-badgers in thick undergrowth of primary montane forest habitats,
greater than 2 km from the forest edge.
- Habitat Regions
- tropical
- terrestrial
Physical Description
Javan ferret-badgers are small slender-bodied carnivores that typically weigh 1 to
2 kg. Their body length ranges from 35 to 40 cm; with a tail length of 14.5 to 17.0
cm. Javan ferret-badgers have small heads and faces that taper to a thick nose. The
upper and lower jaws of Javan ferret-badgers are the same length, but the upper jaw
appears to extend past the end of the lower jaw. Their nose has nostrils opening on
the front and a mustache below that contains vibrissae extending posteriorly. Their
eyes are prominent and sit medially between their ears and nose. Their limbs are
slender and end at a five-toed foot, with one claw per toe. Claws are concavely curved
and longer on the forefeet than on the hind feet, the claws on the middle digit are
the longest. The middle digit is the longest, followed by shorter (but equal length)
toes on the second and fourth digits, and the thumb and fifth digit are the shortest,
but equal in length. Anterior extremities are approximately 11.5 cm long and posterior
extremities are about 12.7 cm long.
Javan ferret-badgers have silky brown fur, with reddish tints, but may appear gray
and tawny depending on ambient light. In addition to a white spot and lateral patches
on their head and face, Javan ferret-badgers have white markings (sometimes with yellow
tints) on their neck, throat, breast and abdomen. A band of dark brown fur extends
from behind their eyes, down their throat, and behind their ears, eventually connecting
with their ear lobes. A transverse band of gray fur covers their face between the
eyes up the crown of their head. Both ears and their upper jaw have white fur borders.
Sexual dimorphism has not been reported for Javan ferret-badgers, but they are a very
poorly studied species (data deficient according to the IUCN). Javan ferret-badgers
are very similar in appearance to Bornean ferret-badgers (
Melogale everetti
) and large-toothed ferret-badgers (
Melogale personata
). Ferret-badgers' taxonomy has a confusing history due to species group heterogeneity.
In the past, Javan, Bornean and large-toothed ferret-badgers were sometimes considered
the same species, though they are now three distinct species. There are potentially
two subspecies of Javan ferret-badgers, distinguished by geographic location. Eastern
Java is home to
Melogale orientalis orientalis
and western Java is home to
Melogale orientalis sundaicus
. The eastern subspecies is typically larger than the western subspecies.
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- homoiothermic
- bilateral symmetry
Reproduction
There is currently no information on the mating systems of Javan ferret-badgers. Sightings
of small groups of juveniles and adults foraging together may suggest some type of
communal or social breeding system.
Little information exists on the reproductive behaviors of Javan ferret-badgers. Congenerics,
such as Chinese ferret-badgers (
Melogale moschata
) and Burmese ferret-badgers (
Melogale personata
) typically breed in March and most births occur in May and June, but some young are
born as late as December (Chinese ferret-badger). Other congenerics, such as Taiwan
ferret-badgers (
Melogale moschata subaurantiaca
), have an extended breeding season (February to September), exhibiting full reproductive
physiological activity from February to March. Average litters for congenerics, such
as Chinese ferret-badgers and Burmese ferret-badgers, range from 1 to 4 young. Specific
information for Javan ferret-badgers is unknown, but they may exhibit similar patterns
of reproductive behavior to some of their close relatives.
- Key Reproductive Features
- iteroparous
- seasonal breeding
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- fertilization
- viviparous
Young Javan ferret-badgers are likely altricial, requiring significant parental investment.
Newborns of closely-related ferret-badgers (
Melogale moschata
) are blind and do not open their eyes for two weeks post-partum, which may also be
the case in Javan ferret-badgers.
- Parental Investment
- altricial
Lifespan/Longevity
Lifespan and longevity information are not available for Javan ferret-badgers.
Behavior
Javan ferret-badgers have not been extensively studied, so there has been little information
reported on their behaviors. Ferret-badgers of the genus
Melogale
are fossorial creatures that opt to use preexisting holes in the ground, instead
of expending energy to create new holes. Javan ferret-badgers are nocturnal and adult-juvenile
groups forage together between dusk and dawn. Anecdotal evidence suggests some arboreal
affinity within the species.
Home Range
The home range size of Javan ferret-badgers is unknown, but home ranges for the closely
related Chinese ferret-badgers (
Melogale moschata
) range from 8.6 to 578 ha. There is potential for home range overlap between sexes,
but home range sizes remain undetermined.
Communication and Perception
No information is available on their communication or perception, but like other
mustelids
, Javan ferret-badgers may use anal scent glands and associated pheromones for communication.
- Communication Channels
- chemical
Food Habits
Javan ferret-badgers forage at night. In search of food, they dig through leaf litter
(sometimes in groups) and scavenge picnic sites.
- Primary Diet
- omnivore
- Animal Foods
- birds
- mammals
- amphibians
- eggs
- carrion
- terrestrial non-insect arthropods
- Plant Foods
- fruit
Predation
As mesocarnivores, larger predators likely prey upon Javan ferret-badgers, but records
of predation are non-existent. For other closely related species, including Chinese
ferret-badgers (
Melogale moschata
), dens and nocturnal activity are potential strategies to minimize predation. Aposematic
coloration and the anal scent gland have been suggested as predator deterrents in
other closely related species of ferret-badgers.
- Anti-predator Adaptations
- aposematic
Ecosystem Roles
Javan ferret-badgers are small carnivores that may control their prey populations.
Closely-related Chinese ferret-badgers feed on invertebrates, including
cockroaches
, which may help control invertebrate populations within the species' range. Species
specific information is not available for Javan ferret-badgers.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Javan ferret-badgers are traded in the wildlife pet market, though such operations
are typically illegal.
- Positive Impacts
- pet trade
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
No information is available on negative economic impacts of Javan ferret-badgers,
but they could potentially be disease vectors. Javan ferret-badgers' close relative,
Chinese ferret-badgers
, sometimes carry rabies, canine distemper and SARS, but these do not appear to impact
their populations.
- Negative Impacts
-
injures humans
- causes disease in humans
- carries human disease
Conservation Status
The status of Javan ferret-badgers is not well-known. Currently, the IUCN lists Javan
ferret-badgers as 'data deficient'. Javan ferret-badgers are restricted to small areas
on the islands of Java and Bali, which face deforestation. Additional pressures from
hunting and illegal pet trade also threaten Javan ferret-badgers. Without more data,
actual pressures and status information are at best, educated guesses.
Additional Links
Contributors
Kristin Denryter (author), Northern Michigan University, John Bruggink (editor), Northern Michigan University, Leila Siciliano Martina (editor), Texas State University.
- oriental
-
found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- island endemic
-
animals that live only on an island or set of islands.
- tropical
-
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.
- terrestrial
-
Living on the ground.
- forest
-
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
- mountains
-
This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation.
- endothermic
-
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- iteroparous
-
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
- seasonal breeding
-
breeding is confined to a particular season
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- fertilization
-
union of egg and spermatozoan
- viviparous
-
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.
- altricial
-
young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.
- arboreal
-
Referring to an animal that lives in trees; tree-climbing.
- fossorial
-
Referring to a burrowing life-style or behavior, specialized for digging or burrowing.
- nocturnal
-
active during the night
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- social
-
associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- carrion
-
flesh of dead animals.
- aposematic
-
having coloration that serves a protective function for the animal, usually used to refer to animals with colors that warn predators of their toxicity. For example: animals with bright red or yellow coloration are often toxic or distasteful.
- pet trade
-
the business of buying and selling animals for people to keep in their homes as pets.
- causes disease in humans
-
an animal which directly causes disease in humans. For example, diseases caused by infection of filarial nematodes (elephantiasis and river blindness).
- omnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats all kinds of things, including plants and animals
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
References
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Chuang, S., L. Lee. 1996. Food habits of three carnivore species ( Viverricula indica , Herpestes urva , and Melogale moschata ) in Fushan Forest, northern Taiwan. Journal of the Zoological Society of London , 243 (1): 71-79.
Duckworth, J., N. Brickle. 2008. " Melogale orientalis " (On-line). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41697/0 .
Duckworth, J., S. Roberton, N. Brickle. 2008. Further notes on Javan ferret badger Melogale orientalis at Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, Java. Small Carnivore Conservation , 39: 39-40. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.smallcarnivoreconservation.org/sccwiki/images/8/8b/SCC39_Duckworth_et_al.pdf .
Horsfield, T. 1824. Zoological Researches in Java and the Neighbouring Islands . London: Kingsbury, Parybury, & Allen.
Hunter, L. 2011. Carnivores of the World . Princeton, NJ, USA: Princeton University Press.
Kim, M. 2012. Notes on live ferret badger Melogale trade in Java. Small Carnivore Conservation , 46: 30-32. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://smallcarnivoreconservation.org/home/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Kim_SCC46.pdf .
Long, C. 1992. Is the Javan ferret-badger a subspecies or a species?. Small Carnivore Conservation , 6: 17. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.smallcarnivoreconservation.org/sccwiki/images/2/24/Number_6.PDF .
Pei, K., Y. Wang. 1995. Some observations on the reproduction of the Taiwan ferret badger ( Melogale moschata subaurantiaca ) in southern Taiwan. Zoological Studies , 34 (2): 88-95.
Pei, K. 2001. Daily activity budgets of the Taiwan ferret badger ( Melogale moschata subaurantiaca ) in captivity. Endangered Species Research , 3: 1-11.
Riffel, M. 1991. An update on the Javan ferret-badger Melogale orientalis (Horsfield, 1821). Mustelid & Viverrid Conservation , 5: 2-3. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.smallcarnivoreconservation.org/sccwiki/images/c/c0/Number_5.PDF .
Seefeldt, R. 2003. " Melogale moschata Chinese ferret-badger" (On-line). Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 08, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Melogale_moschata/ .
Storz, J., W. Wozencraft. 1999. Melogale moschata . Mammalian Species , 631: 1-4. Accessed January 30, 2013 at http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-631-01-0001.pdf .
Zhang, L., Y. Wang, Y. Zhou, C. Newman, Y. Kaneko, D. Macdonald, P. Jiang, P. Ding. 2010. Ranging and activity patterns of the group-living ferret badger Melogale moschata in central China. Journal of Mammalogy , 91 (1): 101-108.