බොර මුගටියා [Bora Mugatiya]/Indian Brown Mongoose (Herpestes fuscus)

 Indian Brown Mongoose is a mammal inhabiting forest patches, well wooded home gardens, tea estates, and similar habitats throughout the western third of the island from northwest arid zone to higher hills. It is seldom to be found in heavy forests. However it can be also seen in urban and suburban home gardens, even within the heart of Colombo. It is usually seen as a solitary animal though mating pairs or mother-pups families occasionally encountered. Indian Brown Mongoose is a omnivorous and mainly preys on rodents, frogs, snakes, lizards, spiders, birds their eggs and young, worms, grubs, etc. It also eats berries and even flowers. Depending on the habitat, it is active both during the day and night but usually forages in the early mornings and late afternoons. Indian Brown Mongoose breeds mostly during the first few months of the year. Female Indian Brown Mongoose give birth to  three or four pups in a chamber dug into an anthill or an earthen bank usually by the mother. Three sub species of Indian Brown Mongoose are accepted as H.f. phillipsi from Central Province, H.f. rubidior from the Western Province and H.f. siccatus from the Northern Province mainly base on size and color.