Herpestes auropunctatus

Abstract

Herpestes auropunctatus (Fig. 1) is the small- est of the Asian Herpestes. A condylobasal length of <70 mm separates H. auropunctatus from the other larger species (Becht- hold, 1939) . H. eduiardsi, which shares the coat pattern of alternate gray-brown and yellowbanding of individual hairs that give a speckled or grizzled appearance, has dorsal hair 35 mm in length compared to < 30 mm for H. auropu nctatus. The African members of the genus are not syrnpatri c with H. auropunctatus and all have con- dylobasal lengths > 70 mm, except H. pulverulentus and H. san- guineus. H. sanguineus is similar to H. auropunctatus in coat color, but has a black tail tip and the skull of H. sanguineus has 38 teeth compared to 40 or 42 in H. auropunctatus. The dark-sooty coat color of H. pulv erulentus distinguishes it from H. auropunctatus (Dorst and Dandelot, 1969). GENERAL