Mongooses
The Mongoose family (Herpestidae) contains 30 species of mammals. They are all carnivores, and range in size from 1 foot to 4 feet in length, and from 280 g to 4 kg in weight.
Intelligence is a trait seen in some mongoose species, and as such, they have been successfully domesticated, and even taught tricks. They are often taken in as pets with a desire for them to control vermin.
Mongooses are extremely cunning predators, and are surprisingly agile with a very thick coat. Some species (for example the Indian Mongoose) are used as fighting mongooses: people use them to kill venomous snakes, particularly the cobra.
Mongoose Habitat
The natural mongoose habitat encompasses southern Europe, Africa and southern Asia. They basically extend from mainland Africa to southern Eurasia. Wild mongooses have also been introduced to some Hawaiian and Caribbean islands.
Mongoose Food
Typical mongoose food includes lizards, snakes, crabs, insects, worms, rodents, and other small mammals and birds. When hard pressed to find one of these items, a mongoose will also eat eggs and carrion from other animals. Some Mongooses are typically solitary animals, but some species of mongoose do in fact travel in groups, and share all food.
Mongoose Classification
| Kingdom: Animalia |
| Phylum: Chordata |
| Class: Mammalia |
| Order: Carnivora |
| Suborder: Feliformia |
| Family Herpestidae (Mongooses) |
| Genus Atilax |
| - Atilax paludinosus (Marsh Mongoose) |
| Genus Bdeogale |
| - Bdeogale crassicauda (Bushy-tailed Mongoose) |
| - Bdeogale jacksoni (Jackson’s Mongoose) |
| - Bdeogale nigripes (Black-footed Mongoose) |
| Genus Crossarchus |
| - Crossarchus alexandri (Alexander’s Kusimanse) |
| - Crossarchus ansorgei (Angolan Kusimanse) |
| - Crossarchus obscurus (Common Kusimanse) |
| - Crossarchus platycephalus (Flat-headed Kusimanse) |
| Genus Cynictis |
| - Cynictis penicillata (Yellow Mongoose) |
| Genus Dologale |
| - Dologale dybowskii (Pousargues’ Mongoose) |
| Genus Galerella |
| - Galerella flavescens (Angolan Slender Mongoose) |
| - Galerella pulverulenta (Cape Gray Mongoose) |
| - Galerella sanguinea (Slender Mongoose) |
| Genus Helogale |
| - Helogale hirtula (Ethiopian Dwarf Mongoose) |
| - Helogale parvula (Common Dwarf Mongoose) |
| Genus Herpestes |
| - Herpestes brachyurus (Short-tailed Mongoose) |
| - Herpestes edwardsii (Indian Gray Mongoose) |
| - Herpestes fuscus (Indian Brown Mongoose) |
| - Herpestes ichneumon (Egyptian Mongoose) |
| - Herpestes javanicus (Small Asian Mongoose) |
| - Herpestes naso (Long-nosed Mongoose) |
| - Herpestes semitorquatus (Collared Mongoose) |
| - Herpestes smithii (Ruddy Mongoose) |
| - Herpestes urva (Crab-eating Mongoose) |
| - Herpestes vitticollis (Stripe-necked Mongoose) |
| Genus Ichneumia |
| - Ichneumia albicauda (White-tailed Mongoose) |
| Genus Liberiictus |
| - Liberiictis kuhni (Liberian Mongoose) |
| Genus Mungos |
| - Mungos gambianus (Gambian Mongoose) |
| - Mungos mungo (Banded Mongoose) |
| Genus Paracynictis |
| - Paracynictis selousi (Selous’ Mongoose) |
| Genus Rhynchogale |
| - Rhynchogale melleri (Meller’s Mongoos) |
| Genus Suricata |
| - Suricata suricatta (Meerkat) |