What animal can be the enemy of the mongoose? Types of mongooses, names and photos
Classification
View: Mongoose (Herpestes)
Family: Viverridae
Subfamily: Mongoose
Squad: Predatory
Class: Mammals
Type: Chordata
Subtype: Vertebrates
Kingdom: Animals
Dimensions: body length: 20-75 cm; body weight: from 1.5 to 6 kg
Lifespan: from 6 to 8 years in nature, in captivity – up to 12 years
Mongooses rarely use snakes as food. However, if a reptile threatens their life, they will definitely fight it.
The mongoose is a collective animal. The animals unite in groups and live as one family. Their main food is insects. These predators partly lead an arboreal lifestyle.
In India, the animal is often kept as a hunter of snakes and rodents that live in houses. However, contrary to popular belief, mongooses are not immune to reptile venom. They are simply less susceptible to it.
And if the mongoose can still fight with a small snake, then either he will not win.
Mongooses can quickly exterminate all mice and rats in the house
Habitat
IN modern times The mongoose's habitat covers parts of Africa, Asia and South-Western Europe.
Since ancient times, he has chosen the east of the Arabian Peninsula as his place of residence. The animal is also found in the territories of countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Their acclimatization quickly took place in India (Jamaica) and Hawaii. The animal was even brought to Italy.
All this was done so that he, being an excellent hunter, would exterminate snakes and rodents. However, there the mongooses multiplied greatly and began to destroy animals that benefit people.
Domestic small animals have also been attacked more than once by these agile predators. Such circumstances led to a ban on the import of mongooses into the territory of many countries, but this did not prevent the remaining animals from continuing to reproduce.
They easily adapt to different conditions: animals can settle in semi-deserts with an overgrown carpet of bushes, and in humid tropical forests, Where herbaceous plants will reliably hide them from prying eyes.
Mongooses dig holes in the sand or build homes at the roots of trees. Some species live in low hollows
Characteristic
The very extensive mongoose family includes as many as 35 species, grouped into 14 genera. The most famous of them are the following individuals.
- The common mongoose or Indian mungo (Herpestes edwardsii) has light gray fur interspersed with silver. The animal’s habitat is Africa, Asia (West Indies, Burma) and the southwestern part of Europe (Italy).
- Javan mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) - colored gray or golden Brown color. It is found from northern India to southern China. Distributed on the islands of Java, Borneo, Sumatra.
- Striped mongoose or mungo ( Mungos mungo) – it is also called zebra. It comes in both whitish and brown colors. The animal’s homeland is southern and central Africa (Gambia).
- Yellow or fox-shaped mongoose (Cynictis penicillata) - has a color that depends on the distribution area of the animal. Individuals living closer to the south are endowed with reddish fur mixed with yellow, while those living to the north are yellow-gray. Their homeland is South Africa.
- Dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula) – has a gray or brown color. Among them there are completely black individuals. Found in Southern and Eastern Africa.
Interesting! Regardless of what a mongoose looks like and what species it belongs to, when in danger it always makes sounds similar to a loud growl, sneezing and even purring.
This animal prefers to build its home near any source of fresh water.
Appearance
Some people don't have a clear idea of what a mongoose looks like. The weight of an adult varies between 1.5-6 kg.
It is worth noting that there are many various types, differing in terms of color and body structure. Most often, their fur is a solid gray or brownish color.
However, there are species that have yellowish-brown, gray-greenish and light silver colors. Individuals, and sometimes even young, have a pattern of rings on their tail.
Some animals have stripes of varying sizes all over their bodies. Mongoose fur can be soft or hard, long or short. Its structure and length make it possible to determine the type of animal.
The animal's head is small, and its muzzle has a pointed shape. The predator's ears are also small, rounded and almost invisible. The body of the animal is elongated and moderately thin.
It ends in a long and fluffy tail, which is larger than the mongoose itself. The short legs of the animal are often painted in dark colors.
Interesting! The mongoose is often called the "pharaoh's rat." The fact is that these animals were considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians. They were embalmed and buried with full honors.
The mongoose's eye has a very unusual pupil - horizontal. This makes his gaze cunning and insightful
Key Features
Nimble mongooses are mainly diurnal and sleep at night, however, here everything again depends on the species.
The animal’s hole is invisible to surrounding eyes, since it always tries to disguise the entrance there. Animals usually hunt within their home (within a radius of up to 1 km). They have the following qualities important for a predator:
- sharp eyesight and a keen sense of smell, but as for hearing, the animal’s hearing is weak by nature, but this does not prevent it from hunting;
- fantastic speed, as well as resourcefulness (their reaction speed is one of the highest in the animal world);
- a special strategy for conducting a battle (no matter who is in front of him - the enemy or the victim - the mongoose discourages everyone with its sharp attacks);
- thick and dense fur, which is able to protect the animal’s body from snake bites (in particular, cobras);
- long and sharp claws and teeth capable of causing serious injury or damage to the enemy;
- the ability to emit a sharp unpleasant odor emanating from special glands at the anus, which often saves animals from danger.
Interesting! The natural agility, as well as the extraordinary maneuverability of these animals, led the Russian armed forces to the idea of creating a high-speed boat, called the Mongoose. It first appeared in 2000.
A cunning animal often waits for its stronger victim to finally exhaust all its strength to attack. After that, he himself goes on the attack.
Nutrition
All mongooses are divided into groups (20-25 individuals each). Usually they build themselves one common dwelling, which can have several entrances.
Members of the same group recognize each other by a special smell. Vocal contact is carried out between them through whistling, shouting and other sounds.
The animal's diet includes:
- fruits and berries (they can eat both animal and plant foods, engaged in collecting);
- insects, as well as their larvae (animals find them by examining grass hummocks and piles of fallen leaves);
- small reptiles and amphibians (there are even special kind mongooses feeding on crabs);
- chicks and bird eggs (the animal got used to breaking their shells on nearby stones);
- large reptiles (sometimes these are snakes, which mongooses hunt in flocks and less often alone, which can be seen in the photo below).
While some members of the group are feeding, a couple of others are sure to keep an eye on environment. When an enemy appears, they inform the others about it.
The enemies of mongooses are jackals, snakes and predator birds.
Having heard a signal notifying of an impending threat, the animals instantly disappear into shelters: between the roots of trees, in rock crevices or minks dug specially for such an occasion.
Interesting! Mongooses brought to America by humans were not agile enough to cope with rattlesnakes, which annoyed local farmers. In terms of reaction, reptiles acted faster than small predators.
Mongooses try not to attack king cobras, however, if a fight does take place, they will fight to the last
Reproduction
With the beginning of the mating season, strong competition arises between male mongooses. Each group always has a leader who marks all its members, as well as the boundaries of his territory, with the secretion of the anal glands.
He has the unconditional right to mate with any female. As for other mongooses, according to their behavior they can be divided into 2 types.
The first type is dominant. Such males behave aggressively towards relatives who are trying to capture the attention of females, and mate with them themselves.
These individuals are focused on procreation. The second type of mongoose is forced to be content with free females in the group. Special attention they devote themselves to caring for their offspring.
Mongooses need sufficient food and water to reproduce. As soon as they feel that food supplies will last for a long time, they prepare to breed.
After a short mating ritual and repeated mating, the female begins to wait for the cubs to be born.
Before giving birth, she covers her nest with dry herbs. After 2 months, babies are born (usually 3-4 cubs per litter). It's amazing what a newly born mongoose looks like.
Although babies are deprived of sight and hearing, they are already equipped with sharp claws. The crumbs weigh about 20 g.
They spend the first weeks of their lives with their mother, feeding on her milk, in a hole underground, and by the month they begin to get out of there.
Animals living in humid areas have offspring much more often than their relatives living in dry areas.
Raising offspring
As soon as the cubs emerge from the burrow, they almost immediately begin to eat solid food. At the age of 2 weeks, babies acquire sight and hearing, so all they have to do is learn to hunt.
Adult members of the group sometimes bring food to the cubs, and female mongooses feed milk not only to their own, but also to other people’s “children.”
Interesting! These animals raise their babies all together. Upon reaching 3-4 months, the young animal acquires a patron who takes care of it for a certain time and teaches it the necessary skills. This way, the younger generation in the group is provided with reliable care.
At 5 months, the young animal no longer needs mother's milk. Then feeding stops. The female mongoose reaches sexual maturity at 9 months, and the male only at one year. Few animals survive to the age when they can have offspring, since they have many enemies.
Grown mongooses usually leave their group for neighboring ones, where they then produce offspring.
Thus, these small predators are not threatened with degeneration due to inbreeding. Wildlife lovers often manage to take photos of animals from an interesting angle.
Mongooses easily adapt to life in a zoo and are able to reproduce in captivity
In India, the animal has long been domesticated. Some entrepreneurs in this country create special nurseries where mongooses are bred.
Their grown cubs are sold there. If desired, take small predator to your home, you need to know some things about its contents.
- A mongoose needs a spacious cage. The animal cannot sit for a long time in a cramped and confined space. He gets bored there.
- Inside the cage you need to create an appropriate environment: place a couple of driftwood, put a ball or some other toy, put a tray for the mongoose’s needs.
- The animal is unpretentious in food. He can be given meat, fish, raw eggs, cottage cheese, vegetables and fruits. It is better to make the diet varied, combining animal and plant foods.
- To observe what a mongoose looks like during a hunt, sometimes you can bring a mouse, cockroach or frog into its cage. In this case, you should not experiment with snakes.
Interesting! Mongooses became famous among people after the publication of R. Kipling’s story “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”, where main character- mongoose - subsequently saved the child and his entire family from cobras.
The mongoose is easily tamed, responding with affection to the care and love of its owner.
Relationships with people
Baby mongooses get used to people faster than adults. The latter will need some time to establish contact with the person.
At first, the animal may even use its teeth and claws. Do not forget that this is a predator, albeit a small one, and you need to behave carefully with it.
Another inconvenience that a mongoose can cause to its owner is a specific smell, just like that of a mongoose, which the animal emits thanks to its scent glands. He also likes to mark his territory.
You need to get used to this and not scold your pet without a significant reason.
Sometimes the animal can be released from the cage to frolic a little. This way the owner will see what the mongoose looks like in the game.
However, under no circumstances should he be left unattended: he is capable of chewing furniture, digging up the lawn, breaking something, and even running away.
Mongooses are very smart animals. They are able to accept correct solution, having studied the current situation
Interesting! Scientists conducted a study that proved that mongooses produce sounds similar to human speech at the stage of its formation.
In general, the animal delivers a lot positive emotions, responding to calls and climbing into arms, making him an excellent pet.
Mongoose: Fearless Snake Hunter
The mongoose is a predatory animal. He can do some good by killing poisonous snakes, and harm, exterminating small domestic animals.
Features and habitat of the mongoose
Mongoose(from the Latin Herpestes) is a mammal from the order of predators of the mongoose family.
This family was separated from the civet family due to some differences in mongoose animals, such as rounded ears, odorous anal glands and others.
It has a medium-sized slender oblong body from 20 to 75 centimeters, a small head with an elongated muzzle and small ears, quite a long tail, reaching body length and four short limbs with non-retractable claws.
The color of these mammals is predominantly monotonous gray and brown. Some species have stripes and ring patterns on their tails. One of animals outwardly very mongoose-like is a ferret. The habitat of mongooses is southern Europe, Asia and Africa.
The mongoose family is very extensive and contains 35 species, which are grouped into 14 genera:
Water mongooses;
Black-footed mongooses(fuzzy-tailed, black-footed and Jackson's mongoose);
Cuzimanza (Zairean, Angolan, long-nosed, flat-headed cuzimanza);
Yellow mongooses;
Dybovsky's mongoose;
African mongooses(South African mongoose, slender mongoose, rufous and buffy mongoose);
Dwarf mongooses(tiny and dwarf mongooses);
Genus Mongoose (small, short-tailed, common, brown, Egyptian, Javan, long-nosed, collared, Indian, band-necked and crabeater mongoose);
White-tailed mongooses;
Liberian mongoose;
Striped mongooses(striped and Gambian);
Gray mongoose;
Umbi;
Meerkat.
From most of the names of genera and species themselves, one can understand the differences between animals from each other. Also, you can easily look at all these differences between animals by studying photo of mongooses.
Character and lifestyle of the mongoose
The mongoose is not a solitary animal; it usually lives in groups of up to 40-50 individuals. Leads both diurnal and nocturnal terrestrial life.
For safety and reproduction, they dig underground holes for themselves or inhabit those abandoned by someone. Some species live in the roots of trees, and sometimes even in low hollows.
These mammals hunt mainly in packs, telling each other about the location of the prey with peculiar sounds reminiscent of a whistle. Often, when hunting, in order to detect prey, mongooses stand on their hind legs and look out for their game in the surrounding area.
The fame of mongooses among the ordinary population of our planet was brought by the writer Joseph Rudyard Kipling, who wrote a fairy tale about the winner of a cobra. mongoose named Rikki-Tikki-Tavi based on which a hand-drawn animated film of the same name was released in the Soviet Union in 1965, then, together with Indian cinema, a feature film with the same name was released in our country in 1975.
The dexterity and maneuverability of mongooses prompted our armed forces to name the high-speed boats of the 12150 series “Mongoose” produced in their honor since 2000. The Italian military also decided to keep up with ours and in 2007 invented and began producing for Turkish army attack helicopters called "Agusta A129 "Mongoose".
Mongoose nutrition
The mongoose spends most of its waking time hunting for food. Its world-famous agility and speed allows it to hunt even nimble and fast small vertebrate mammals, such as mice, rats, small birds and even invertebrate snakes, including poisonous ones.
In addition, the diet of these animals includes insects and larvae. Separate mongoose species, living near bodies of water, eat crustaceans such as snails, crabs and clams.
Some species are omnivores and, in addition to animal food, consume plants, fruits, berries, nuts and various seeds. There are interesting observations of how mongooses crack nuts– taking the nut with its forelimbs, the animal stands on its hind legs, lifts the nut above itself and throws it on the ground, thereby breaking the shell.
Due to their unusual nature of hunting poisonous snakes, these mammals are very popular in India and are very often kept mongooses as pets. Moreover, the animal takes root well and gets accustomed to home conditions and is quite unpretentious to homemade food.
Some entrepreneurs in this country specifically breed these mammals and, on the market, anyone can buy animal mongoose to your home. For the local population mongoose value not as great in money as in a kind of guardianship of the human home from various kinds of snakes.
Mongoose reproduction and lifespan
Mongooses reach sexual maturity at one year of age. They do not have a specific mating period; depending on the species and habitat, the mating periods of mongooses take place in different seasons.
After mating, they bear offspring for 60 days, preparing their home for their appearance. The litter of mongooses ranges from one to four cubs. After birth, they are blind and feed on their mother's milk for a month. They begin to move independently after 1.5-2 weeks.
The females of these animals are very caring mothers. Moreover, they often take care of both their children and the children of other females living in the pack. Before independent life mothers protect their cubs in everything, bring them food, teach them to hunt, and make sure that they do not stray too far from the shelter.
Very often, without keeping an eye on your child, baby mongoose become food for others more large predators. One of the animals that eats the mongoose are birds of prey, which, seeing the animal from afar, suddenly rush down, grabbing their prey with their claws and dragging them into their nest. Large cat predators also like to feast on mongooses.
The life expectancy of mongooses is not long and reaches an average of 6-8 years. At home and in zoos, these animals live a little longer; the longest life span currently known is up to 12 years.
In Asia and African continent lives an animal surprisingly similar to a marten. But even in our country, everyone who watched the cartoon “Rikki – Tikki – Tavi”, based on the works of R. Kipling, is familiar with him. This is the animal mongoose.
What does a mongoose look like?
A strong, slightly elongated body on low paws, a narrow, pretty muzzle and a long fluffy tail - this is a brief portrait of a mongoose.
The unusually thick fur of this animal can have different colors, depending on the species to which it belongs, or even a pattern in the form of spots and stripes. And despite hot climate, in which he lives, it is simply necessary for the mongoose, as it can protect him from snake bites.
The size of the animal mongoose, again, depending on the species, can range from 25 to 75 cm, and weight from 1.5 to 6 kg. There are five fingers on the short paws, on which rather powerful and non-retractable claws grow, which characterizes the mongoose as an excellent hunter. The beautiful and intelligent eyes of this furry animal are very sharp. He also has an excellent sense of smell. But his hearing is rather weak.
In the mongoose’s mouth there are two rows of unusually strong and sharp teeth, which, like its claws, are successfully used during hunting.
Where does the mongoose live?
As mentioned earlier, the mongoose’s homeland is Asia and Africa. Here it settles almost everywhere - deserts, forests, shores of reservoirs... Everything again depends on the species to which this or that individual belongs. At the same time, it does not matter at all to them that it is outside - day or night - mongooses can be active at any time of the day. They can run, skip, jump or just hunt... The tireless mongoose seems to never sleep at all.
In fact, mongooses do not hunt snakes that often. Most likely, this is a necessary measure in case of hunger or threat from a snake What does a mongoose eat?
Mongooses are predators, but it is safe to say that they are tireless hunters. Their diet mainly consists of insects, small invertebrates and crustaceans.
Listen to the mongoose's voice
By the way, the fact cited in the legendary cartoon “Rikki – Tikki – Tavi” about how mongooses hunt cobras is an exaggeration. But if hunger or fear presses you... and you won’t be well.
Mongoose lifestyle
Mongooses lead an exclusively terrestrial lifestyle, and at the same time they have enough natural enemies. The main ones are large birds of prey, which, while still at altitude, look out for furry animals and attack.
Even more defenseless in this regard are baby mongooses, who, due to their immaturity and weakness, do not even have time to run to the hole and hide.
As for the latter, they are born after pregnancy, which lasts 60 days. Babies are born very weak and blind, and luxurious fur has not yet formed on the body, and the covering is slightly pubescent.
During the first period of their life, mongoose cubs feed on their mother’s milk and grow quite quickly, which allows them to go on their first hunt under the supervision of their parents at the age of 3 months. And here begins, perhaps, the most difficult period, when it is necessary to save not only your life, but also the life of the cubs. In this case, mongooses behave not only bravely, standing on end, bristling their fur and making threatening sounds, but also own secret weapon– raising their gorgeous tail up, they release a stream of foul-smelling liquid, thereby scaring away enemies. And in case of severe danger, mongooses can attack the enemy, even if he is larger in size.
Who are the enemies of mongooses? wildlife, You will learn from this article.
Enemies of mongooses
The mongoose family appeared on our planet about 65 million years ago, during the Paleocene period. The small-sized animals entered scientific circles under the name “Herpestidae”. Mongooses are part of the civet family. They live in the regions of Asia and Africa, but some species can be found in Southern Europe. Also, this animal species was introduced and adapted to life on the American continent. Favorite places animal habitats are wooded mountains, wet jungle, flowering meadows, savannas, sea coasts, semi-deserts and deserts, even urban areas. Therefore, it is natural that mongooses have enemies in their natural habitat.
Who eats mongooses?
The enemies of these warlike animals are jackals, birds of prey, snakes. They can also be hunted by such large animals as caracals, leopards, servals. Most often, the teeth of predators end up with baby mongooses that did not have time to take cover from the enemy and hide in a hole.
Mongooses have so-called scouts who guard territories and notify their relatives of enemy attacks. They emit a signal warning of an impending threat. The animals, hearing the signal, immediately hide in their shelters. These could be tree roots, rock crevices, or holes specially dug for such cases. Adults try to escape from the enemy; if he fails, the mongoose tries to fight back: it arches its back with a hump, raises its tail threateningly, bristles its fur, barks and growls, bites, and also “shoots” a smelly liquid that is produced by the anal glands.
Distributed in southwestern Angola, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.
Body length is 250-350 mm, tail - 175-250 mm.
Meerkats live in arid areas, almost devoid of trees, on rocky or other hard ground. They are active burrowing animals. Meerkat colonies dig burrows or take advantage of abandoned African ground squirrel burrows. If they live in a mountainous area, then rocky caves serve as shelters for them. They lead a diurnal lifestyle. On a warm day they like to bask in the sun, taking the most bizarre poses. Can stand for a long time hind legs. Housing is often changed, and new housing is often 1-2 km from the old one.
Meerkats are highly organized animals that unite in colonies that include two or three family groups, with a total of 20-30 individuals. Meerkat clans are fighting among themselves over territory. Battles often occur on the “borders”. Some of them end badly for at least one meerkat. If one family takes over the burrow of another, the cubs in it will be killed. Each family consists of a pair of adults and their offspring. Matriarchy reigns in the meerkat group. The female may be larger in size than the male and dominates him. Meerkats often talk to each other; their sound range includes at least ten sound combinations.
They feed near their burrow, turning over stones and digging out cracks in the ground. In most cases, meerkats eat insects, but the diet is also supplemented by lizards, snakes, scorpions, spiders, millipedes - both bipeds and labiopods, small vertebrates, eggs, and various parts of vegetation. Rarely small birds. Meerkats are immune to some poisons; They are resistant to scorpion venom.
Meerkats reach sexual maturity at the age of one year. The female can bear up to four litters per year. Mating occurs in September-October, offspring are born in November-December. Pregnancy lasts 77 days or less. There are 2-5 cubs in a litter, usually four. A newborn weighs 25-36 g, it opens its eyes at 10-14 days, and is breastfed for 7-9 weeks. The cubs can emerge from the burrow into the light only when they are three weeks old. In families of wild meerkats, only the dominant female has the right to bear offspring. If any other female becomes pregnant or has already given birth, the dominant female can drive the “offending” one out of the family, often she even kills the cubs.
Water mongoose
Water Mongoose
(Atilax paludinosus)
Distributed from Republic of South Africa to Ethiopia in the northeast and Sierra Leone in the northwest, excluding desert and semi-desert areas. Found from sea level to 2,500 meters.
Body length is 45-60 cm, tail length is 30-40 cm, body weight is from 2.5 to 4.1 kg.
Prefers the shores of various freshwater bodies of water, often river mouths, limited big amount dense vegetation. It is active mainly at night and twilight, although vigorous activity has sometimes been observed during the day. An excellent swimmer, however, it prefers to keep its head above the water level, and often rests on patches of grass and floating vegetation while swimming. The territory of each mongoose is clearly defined, and usually the border runs along the water of the reservoirs near which they live.
The water mongoose is an omnivore, primarily a carnivore, and feeds on everything it can catch and kill. The basis of the diet is freshwater crabs, shrimp, shellfish (mussels and snails); Fish, frogs, snakes, birds and their eggs, small rodents, large insects and their larvae, and centipedes are of lesser importance in nutrition.
They breed twice a year: in the middle of the dry season and during the rainy season. The female gives birth to cubs in a nest of dry grass, which settles in the voids of trunks, among the roots of trees, all kinds of crevices, burrows, natural caves, or in the absence of natural shelters, especially in swampy habitats, simply in a nest among reeds, grass and sticks.
Babies (from 1 to 3, usually 2) are born blind and helpless, weighing about 100 g and only 9-14 days after birth, their eyes and ears open. The female feeds milk for at least a month, after which they gradually switch to solid food, and finally stop feeding on milk between 30 - 45 days and later. For some period after weaning, juveniles may accompany the female on her hunting trips.
Furry-tailed mongoose
Bushy-tailed Mongoose
(Bdeogale crassicauda)
Distributed in Central Africa, from Southern Kenya to Central Mozambique.
Body length - 40-50 cm, tail - 20-30 cm.
Inhabits lowland forests and savannas with dense vegetation.
Jackson's mongoose
Jackson's Mongoose
(Bdeogale jacksoni)
Inhabits mountain forests and bamboo thickets of Southwestern Kenya and Northern Tanzania.
Body length - 52-57 cm, tail - 27-36 cm. Body weight is 2-3 kg.
Leads a solitary lifestyle, but sometimes there are couples.
It feeds mainly on insects, but also eats small vertebrates and carrion.
The genus (Bdeogale) also includes the Black-footed mongoose (Bdeogale nigripes), which lives in tropical forests Central Africa, from Southeastern Nigeria to Northern Zaire (Congo) and Northern Angola.
Long-nosed kuzimanze
Long-nosed Cusimanse
(Crossarchus obscurus)
Distributed in Central and Western Africa.
Body length is about 33 cm, weight - 1 kg.
Lives in forests and swampy areas. Can be active both during the day and at night. It travels in search of prey in flocks, rarely staying in one place for more than two days, resting in any suitable place. In search of food, he turns over stones and fallen trees, digs holes. The diet includes a variety of foods: insects, caterpillars, small reptiles, crabs, fruits and berries.
The genus Cusimanze (Crossarchus) also includes: Angolan cuzimanze (Crossarchus ansorgei), Alexandra cuzimanze (Crossarchus alexandri), Flat-headed cuzimanze (Crossarchus platycephalus).
Yellow mongoose
Yellow Mongoose
(Cynictis penicillata)
It is found in southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and southern Angola. Its preferred habitat is savannas and semi-deserts.
Body size ranges from 27 to 38 cm, tail length from 18 to 28 cm. The weight of adult individuals ranges from 440 to 800 g.
Yellow mongooses are active during the day and spend the night in their burrows. They dig well, but prefer to adopt other people's burrows, usually built by gophers or striders. Sometimes they inhabit burrows together with gophers. Yellow mongooses live in family groups of four to eight animals. They hunt rodents, birds and their eggs, but most of their food consists of insects.
Once or twice a year, after a 60-day pregnancy, females give birth to one to three cubs. After eight weeks, they wean themselves off their mother's milk, and upon reaching one year of age they become sexually mature. Life expectancy in captivity reaches 15 years.
Savannah mongoose
Pousargues's Mongoose
(Dologale dybowskii)
Distributed in the Central African Republic, northeastern Zaire, southern Sudan and western Uganda.
The length of the body including the head is 250-330 mm, the tail 160-230 mm.
It lives in forests of different types: evergreen, savanna, mountain, as well as on grassy plains.
Common dwarf mongoose
Common Dwarf Mongoose
(Helogale parvula)
Distributed from Ethiopia to Angola and eastern South Africa.
Dwarf mongooses reach a length of 18 to 26 cm, not counting the tail, which is 12 to 20 cm long. Their weight ranges between 230 and 260 g.
They live in savannas, wooded areas, shrubby heaths, as well as in mountain forests at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level. They are active during the day and spend their entire lives on the ground. Mongooses make their shelters in termite mounds (abandoned or active), in holes among tree roots or caves. The body is puny, capable of penetrating into the narrowest cracks and small holes. On occasion, they dig holes on their own. They spend most of the day in noisy fuss, looking for prey among rocks, bushes, and leaf litter. They feed mainly on insects, small vertebrates, eggs, and fruits.
Dwarf mongooses live in groups, which are assigned certain territories. The group lives in one area for 2-3 months, and then migrates in search of food.
Two or three times a year, the female gives birth to one to seven (on average four) cubs after a 50-day pregnancy. For at least 45 days they are fed milk, but at the same time they begin to be supplied with solid food to other members of the group. Only aged three years they become adults, and their average duration life is up to twelve years.
Ethiopian dwarf mongoose
Ethiopian Dwarf Mongoose
(Helogale hirtula)
Inhabits Southern Ethiopia, southern Somalia, Northern Kenya.
Lesser Indian mongoose
Small Asian Mongoose
(Herpestes javanicus)
Distributed throughout the countries of South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam). It lives in both forests and open spaces.
An adult mongoose reaches a length of 45-105 cm including its tail.
It feeds on insects, lizards, various amphibians, snakes, birds, eggs of birds and reptiles, crabs, fish and fruits. The small Indian mongoose is known as a killer of venomous snakes, especially cobras.
Gray Indian mongoose
Common Gray Mongoose
(Herpestes edwardsii)
Distributed from the coast of the Arabian Peninsula to Nepal and south to Pakistan, India and Ceylon.
Body length is 38-46 cm, tail - 35 cm.
Inhabits open spaces, grassy plains and bushes. Usually sleeps in earthen holes or tree hollows, where the midday sun does not penetrate.
2-3 times a year the female gives birth to 2 to 4 cubs. Pregnancy lasts 60-65 days.
Brown Indian mongoose
Indian Brown Mongoose
(Herpestes fuscus)
It lives on the island of Sri Lanka and Western India.
Ichneumon
Egyptian Mongoose
(Herpestes ichneumon)
Distributed in Spain, Portugal, Israel and most of Africa with the exception of central Zaire, lowland forests of West Africa and south-eastern South Africa.
The body length is 48-60 cm, the tail length is from 33 to 44 cm.
Lives exclusively on the plains. It lives along river banks, in thickets of reeds and reeds. Here he tramples narrow paths between the stems. During the day it hunts small mammals, birds, snakes, lizards and insects.
Red mongoose
Ruddy Mongoose
(Herpestes smithii)
Inhabits the forests of the Hindustan Peninsula and Sri Lanka.
Body length is 39-47 cm, tail - 33-36 cm. Body weight is from 0.95 to 1.85 kg.
Mongoose-eater
Crab-eating Mongoose
(Herpestes urva)
The distribution area is limited to the low elevations of the southeastern Himalayan range, Arakan, Burma, Assam and southern China.
Body length is about 85 cm, of which about 30 is the tail.
It feeds mainly on frogs and crabs.
Banded-necked mongoose
Stripe-necked Mongoose
(Herpestes vitticollis)
It lives on the island of Sri Lanka and southern India.
Short-tailed mongoose
Short-tailed Mongoose
(Herpestes brachyurus)
It lives in the rain forests of the Malay Archipelago, Borneo, Sumatra and the Philippine islands of Palawan and Busuanga. Settles near rivers and other bodies of water.
The body length is 60-65 cm, the tail length is about 25 cm.
The genus (Herpestes) also includes: Long-nosed mongoose (Herpestes naso), Bengal mongoose (Herpestes palustris), Collared mongoose (Herpestes semitorquatus).
White-tailed mongoose
White-tailed Mongoose
(Ichneumia albicauda)
Distributed from South Africa, Botswana and Namibia northeast to Somalia, Sudan, the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula and northwest to Senegal.
Body length 53-61 cm, tail length 42-47 cm.
Inhabits dense forests and thickets along the banks of reservoirs. Can climb trees. Active at night, during the day it hides in burrows, termite mounds or lairs between roots and in rocks. It feeds on small mammals, birds and their eggs, insects, and reptiles.
Liberian mongoose
Liberian Mongoose
(Liberiictis kuhni)
Distributed in Northwestern Liberia and Southwestern Cote d'Ivoire.
The length of the body including the head is 423 mm, the tail is 197 mm, and the weight is 2.3 kg.
Inhabits tall forests. Found in groups of 3-5 individuals. Leads a terrestrial lifestyle. It feeds mainly on insects.
Striped mongoose
Banded Mongoose
(Mungos mungo)
Distributed in central and eastern Africa.
Body length is 30-45 cm, tail length is 23-29 cm. Body weight is from 1.5 to 2.25 kg.
It lives along river banks and in thickets of thorny bushes. It does not make burrows or nests; it uses random shelters. It feeds on insects and their larvae, small rodents, lizards, and snakes.
Often wanders in whole groups, keeping very compactly and sometimes, though a short time, climbing into a common shelter.
They are active mainly in the morning and evening, and chirp continuously, apparently to maintain mutual contact and transmit information. It feeds on insects, mollusks, reptiles, bird eggs, fruits and berries.
Gambian mongoose
Gambian Mongoose
(Mungos gambianus)
Distributed in West Africa from Gambia and Senegal east to Nigeria.
These animals lead a diurnal, terrestrial lifestyle. They gather in groups of 10-20 individuals. Communication between members of such a group occurs through various sounds similar to the chirping of a bird. Clashes often occur between different groups. The Gambian mongoose most often feeds on beetles and centipedes, but can also eat small rodents, reptiles and bird eggs.
Reproduction occurs at any time of the year. They mate 1-2 weeks after the birth of the cubs. These mongooses may sometimes mate with members of another group. Both parents take care of the offspring. While the females go off to feed, the males actively guard the den. Cubs can be nursed by any lactating female in the group. The lactation period lasts about 1 month.
Slender mongoose
Slender Mongoose
(Galerella sanguinea)
It lives in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa.
Body length is 27-40 cm, tail - 23-33 cm. Body weight - 640-715 g.
These mongooses live alone or in pairs. Leads a predominantly diurnal lifestyle, but can sometimes be found on hot moonlit nights. It feeds on small vertebrates, rodents, lizards, snakes and birds, as well as their eggs and insects. Sometimes eats fruit.
Slender mongooses breed all year round, and the male does not take part in nursing the young. Cubs open their eyes 3 weeks after birth. They become completely independent after 6-7 weeks.
South African mongoose
Cape Gray Mongoose
(Galerella pulverulenta)
Distributed in South and South-West Africa in the countries of Namibia, South Africa and Lesotho.
Body length - 55-69 cm. Weight - 0.5–1.0 kg.
It feeds mainly on insects and small rodents, but sometimes attacks birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
1-3 cubs are born from August to December in hidden burrows, rock crevices or tree hollows. They become independent 4 months after birth.
Angolan slender mongoose
Angolan Slender Mongoose
(Galerella flavescens)
Distributed in Angola and Namibia. Lives in savannas, avoiding desert and wooded areas.
These animals have a long and thin body, males are 15% larger than females. Teeth – 38.
Males do not take part in caring for the offspring. The cubs open their eyes at 3 weeks and become independent at 10 weeks.
Another representative of the genus (Galerella) lives in Somalia - the Somali slender mongoose (Galerella ochracea).
Selous Mongoose
Selous" Mongoose
(Paracynictis selousi)
Distributed in Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Northern Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and also in eastern South Africa.
The body length of the gray merkat, including the head, is 390–470 mm, the tail – 280–400 mm.
Inhabits open plains covered with forests and shrubs. Digs holes arranged like a labyrinth. It leads a terrestrial lifestyle, is active at night, but sometimes it can be found on the surface of the earth during the day when it is resting. Obviously, each mongoose digs its own hole, and does not unite with other relatives in groups; they prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle.
It feeds on insects, frogs, lizards and small rodents.
Umbi
Meller's Mongoose
(Rhynchogale melleri)
Distributed from southern Zaire and Tanzania to eastern South Africa.
Body length is 440–485 mm, tail – 300–400 mm.
It lives in wooded areas and is found in wet, swampy areas densely covered with grass. Leads a terrestrial lifestyle, is active at night, and lives alone. It feeds on fruits, termites, and possibly small vertebrates. The female gives birth to two cubs (in Zaire this happens in December), they are blind at birth and spend the first time in a den built in a rocky cave.
