The ring-tailed mongoose is a carnivorous mammal from Madagascar, notable for the red and black rings on its tail. It is active by day, moving mainly on the ground but also climbing trees.
It has a long, slender reddish-brown body, black feet and a bushy tail marked with alternating red and black rings.
The Ring-tailed Mongoose occurs widely in Madagascar and had been divided into three subspecies based on coat-colour differences. Researchers compared about 550 base pairs from the mitochondrial DNA control region in 19 specimens collected across the island.
The analysis found a strongly supported genetic signature in the western region. Evidence was inconclusive for treating the northern and eastern forms as separate management units. The study compared samples representing all three named subspecies and described regional genetic differences.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
The study found a distinct western genetic signature in 19 specimens but did not clearly support northern and eastern forms as separate management units.