Abstract
The diet of the small Asian mongoose, Herpestes javanicus, was studied by analyzing the contents in the digestive tracts of 83mongooses caught in the northern part of Okinawa Island. Among all taxons, insects had the highest frequency of occurrence and highest mean dry weight (71%, 88mg) in the hoods; reptiles (18%, 27mg), oligochaetes and mollusks (12%, 33mg) were also highly represented. The analysis showed that the mongooses preyed on a wide variety of avians, mammals, amphibians and arthropods. Correcting for the body weights of individual preys suggests that the mongooses consumed avians, mammals, reptiles and insects in equal proportions. However, considering the population and reproductive capability of each of these taxons in the habitat, it can be concluded that reptiles may be the most vulnerable taxon on the island. Furthermore, it was ascertained that the mongooses preyed upon endangered, endemic native species. It is obvious that the native species that inhabited the northern part of Okinawa dwindled in population and eventually were made extinct by the mongoose. If we execute the extirpation plan immediately, it is probable that the worst scenario in the conservation of the ecosystem on Okinawa Island can be avoided.
