The ring-tailed mongoose is a small diurnal predator of Madagascar's forests and jungles. It eats small animals and eggs. While it usually hunts on the ground, it is a good climber and swimmer. These animals mmay hunt in small family groups. Their fur is a chesnut red with a tan throat patch and a bushy black-ringed tail. They make a wide variety of vocalizations, meowing when catching prey and grunting or moaning as alarm calls.