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to be destructive to grapes in the Nasik area and is known to eat coffee
berries when they are ripe. The Indian Fox (Vulpes bengalensis) is usually
found in open scrub country and in cultivated area. Omnivorous it is a
useful destroyer of rats and land crabs. Recently the White footed or
Desert fox (Vulpes vulpes pusilla) has been recorded in the Poona District.
The Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus) is separated from other Indian Canidae by
the presence of six instead of seven molar or grinding teeth in the lower
jaw and in having 12 to 14 instead of ten teats as in the true dogs. Widely
distributed in Asia, the Wild Dog is a purely forest animal in India.
Nomadic, their presence in any particular forest area is not predictable.
Though very destructive to deer they rarely, if ever, attack domestic stock.
Hunt in packs or family parties. Now rare in Maharashtra State.
Of the four species of bears occurring in India only the Sloth bear
(Melursus ursinus) is found in Maharashtra. The Sloth bear with its
distinctive shaggy coat and long snout is found only in India. The colour is
normally black but brownish animals are occasionally seen. Forest animals
they prefer areas where out cropping of rocks and tumbled boulders offer
them shelter. Feed mainly on fruits and insects and are unerring botanists
in their knowledge of the fruiting season of various forest plants. Their
eyesight and hearing are poor and hence react violently when suddenly
come upon in the Jungle. Becoming rare in Maharashtra State.
The Ratel or Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis) (Family Mustelidae)
a squat, bear like animal though not uncommon throughout the Indian
Union, is rarely seen. Its colour is distinctive pale grey above and black
below. An inhabitant of broken hilly country in all except heavy rainfall
areas, it is omnivorous and in some parts of the country believed, but
without substantive evidence, to exhume corpses. The only other
representative of the family, the Smooth-coated Indian Otter (Lutra
perspicillata) is found throughout the Indian Union. A plains animal it
varies in colour from blackish to tawny brown. Mainly inhabits fresh
water, but when living in estuaries goes out after fish into the open sea.
Fish is their staple food and in hunting those families may combine.
FAUNA 606