[6] Genetic analysis of hair and tissue samples from 18 small Indian and Javan mongooses revealed that they form two clades and are distinct species.

[10] The small Indian mongoose is distributed in Iraq through southeastern Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

It has been introduced to several European countries, islands in the Caribbean Sea, Indian and Pacific Oceans, and on Okinawa in southern Japan.

[1] In Iraq, the small Indian mongoose lives in the alluvial plains of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, where it inhabits riverine thickets, crop fields and orchards.

[13] In Pakistan, it occurs on the Pothohar Plateau, in Sialkot District, southeastern Azad Jammu and Kashmir and in Margalla Hills National Park.

[14][15][16][17] In India, it was observed in forested areas of Madhya Pradesh, in Panna Tiger Reserve, Guna district, and in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.

After quarantine, seven males and four females were released near Goveđari and introduced to Korčula, Pelješac, Brač and Šolta between 1921 and 1927; the population of the horned viper (Vipera ammodytes) decreased significantly in 20 years and the mongooses started preying more on resident and migratory birds, and also on domestic poultry.

[32] In Pakistan, the small Indian mongoose feeds primarily on insects including dragonflies, grasshoppers, mole crickets, ground beetles, earwigs and ants.

[16] Faecal pellets found near burrows in Gujarat contained fish scales, feathers and remains of insects in December and plant matter also in spring.

[33] Small Indian mongooses in northern Okinawa Island were infected with Leptospira[34] and antibiotic-resistant strains of Escherichia coli.