Mungotictis decemlineata lineata (Carnivora : Herpestidae), a mysterious Malagasy mongoose

The Malagasy narrow-striped mongoose Mungotictis decemlineata has two curre ntly recognized subspecies: M. d decemlineata and M. d: lineata. Recent lit erature indicates that the latter is very rare, occurring in the: Toliara r egion of southwestern Madagascar, however there are no original locality da ta available for the sole specimen of this taxon, and there is no evidence to suggest that it occurs anywhere near Toliara. Fieldwork to find it shoul d be targeted initially in the Kirindy-Sud/Marofihitse region south of Moro ndava, central western Madagascar.