Herpestes smithii
Silhouette: Margot Michaud · PhyloPic
In 3 days >90%
The ruddy mongoose (Urva smithii) is a species of mongoose native to the forests of India and Sri Lanka. It is classified as least concern in the IUCN Red List. In 1837, British zoologist John Edward Gray proposed the scientific name Herpestes smithii for a zoological specimen in the collection of the British Natural History Museum. Different species names were proposed by various biologists over the years for the ruddy mongooses. In 2009, the Asian mongooses were classified under a new genus, Urva. Three different sub-species have been recognized: smithii, thysanurus, and zeylanius.
The ruddy mongoose is found in forests and shrub lands in India and Sri Lanka. It is mainly a forest dweller and prefers more secluded areas. It has also been recorded to forage in secluded paddy fields in the region. It is classified as least concern in the IUCN Red List.
The ruddy mongoose is a large mongoose with a greyish-brown fur. It has an average head to body length of 40–45 cm (16–18 in) and a 36 cm (14 in) long tail. The long tail features a darker tasseled tip, which is usually curved upward, and is visible from a distance.
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| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yala National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 2 | Wilpattu National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 3 | Ranthambore National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 4 | Udawalawe National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 5 | Bandhavgarh National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 6 | Kanha National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 7 | Sinharaja Forest Reserve | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
| 8 | Nagarhole National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 9 | Bandipur National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 10 | Minneriya National Park | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka |
Very likely
About 80% of wildlife watchers report a Ruddy Mongoose sighting in Yala National Park on a given day, based on 213 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 16 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February–April, August and November
In those months about 90% of wildlife watchers report a Ruddy Mongoose in Yala National Park on a given day, against about 70% in September and October, the lowest months.
Between 2 and 5 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Ruddy Mongoose sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Yes
Of the 10 parks where we can rate Ruddy Mongoose sightings, Yala National Park has the highest daily chance: about 80%. Next come Wilpattu National Park (Sri Lanka, about 80%) and Ranthambore National Park (India, about 60%). All parks ranked.
Same genus: Herpestes
The closest relatives of the Ruddy Mongoose that you can see in Yala National Park (genus Herpestes, Slender Mongooses) are Stripe-necked Mongoose (about 40%) and Indian Gray Mongoose (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Ruddy Mongoose is recorded against all the mammals logged in Yala National Park (213 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
