THE COMMON PALM CIVET OR TODDY CAT | Paradoxurus hermaphrodites

THE COMMON PALM CIVET OR TODDY CAT
Common in the villages and country side and feed on fruits and seeds. The only indirect evidences of this nocturnal animal are the faecal matter and pug marks.
Scientific name : Paradoxurus hermaphrodites
Local names : Marappatti, Pazhamunni, Marameu, Panameru, Kallukudian meru.
Habitat : Villages , forest areas and coffee plantation.
Distribution : Distributed all over Kerala.
Indirect evidences : Scat, pug marks.
Scat : Grayish to brown in colour, seeds of fruits consumed can be seen in the scat.
Size : 19 mm to 20 mm.
Where to look for the indirect evidences : Found in the upstairs of old house. Occasionally drinks toddy from the coconut palms and can be located near the fruiting trees.

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JACKAL | Canis aureus Linnaeus

JACKAL | Canis aureus Linnaeus
Found in villages and around the abandoned places. Pug marks and scats are similar to dogs.

Scientific name : Canis aureus Linnaeus

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
Species: C. aureus
Binomial name: Canis aureus

Local names : Kurukkan, Kurunari, Oolan.

Habitat : In and around villages and in all forest types.

Distribution : Distributed all over Kerala.

Indirect evidences : Scats, pug marks and calls.

Scat : Black in colour.

Size : 8 to 10 mm.

Foot prints : Similar to that of dogs and 4 to 5 cm in width.

Call and sound : Howling at dusk.

Habit : Mainly a scavenger but prey upon small mammals, poultry and even invertebrates. Catches fowls and goats from the villages.

Where to look for the animal : Small rocky bushes and thickets near the outskirts of cities and villages.

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BONNET MACAQUE | Macaca radiate

THE BONNET MACAQUE

The is a common diurnal monkey found in Kerala., occurring both in the forests and villages . The troop size may range from 10 to 20 individuals.

Scientific name : Macaca radiate

Local names : Vellamanthi , Nadan kurangu, Mocha, Vellakurnagu.

Habitat : Moist and dry deciduous forest, semi and wet evergreen forest, edges and country side.

Distribution : Distribution all over Kerala. Commonly found in Parambikulam. Wayanad, Idukki and Chimmony wildlife sanctuaries.

Indirect evidences : Faecal matters, discarded leaf portions on the ground , parts of fruits dropped after feeding, calls, foot prints on the ground and banging sound of tree branches when they jump swiftly.

Faecal matters Colour : Grayish to black and smooth in texture. Similar to humans in shape and found on rocky patches or on the ground.

Foot prints : Foot prints are traceable near the river banks.

Calls : Sounds like “ Kra…Kra…Kra…” is produced by all the individuals in a troop. Gives out a shrill warning call by all the members simultaneously, when a bird of prey soar over the sky, or when predators are sighted.

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