mongoose

It is believed that at some point early in their evolution, these animals split into two distinct subfamilies: Herpestinae and Mungotinae. A third subfamily, called Galidiinae, was once grouped with the other two subfamilies. The Galidiinae, endemic to Madagascar, are sometimes called Madagascar mongooses because of their similar appearance. However, this subfamily is now classified as the Eupleridae family rather than the Herpestidae family.

About 34 species of mongoose are still alive. This includes 23 Herpestinae and 11 Mungotinae. Some extinct species are also known from the fossil record. Meerkat species are unevenly distributed throughout the family. Some genera have only one species. However, there are about 10 extant species in the genus Herpestes, including the famous Indian gray cat, Egyptian mongoose, and crab-eating mongoose.

These animals are usually elongated creatures with elongated bodies, short legs, thin snouts, and small round ears. Coat color is almost always brown, gray, or even yellow, sometimes spotted or striped. There may also be a distinctive ring pattern or color on the tail. Some people mistake them for weasels because of their appearance, although their traditional ranges rarely overlap.

The size of the mongoose as an animal (not a myth!) varies from species to species. Their bodies range from an average of 7 inches in a small pygmy mongoose to an average of 25 inches in a giant Egyptian mongoose, with the tail adding another 6 to 21 inches. This makes the typical animal about the size of a house cat. The largest species can also weigh up to 11 pounds when fully grown.

Their sense of smell is an important part of mongoose communication. This is due to the presence of large scent glands near the anus, which they use to signal mates and mark their territory. In fact, the scent glands are the main feature that distinguishes these animals from civets, cats and forest cats. The mongoose (the correct plural form of mongoose) is an animal that also relies on vocalizations to signal threats, initiate courtship, and communicate other important messages to other members. They can communicate with each other through an impressive variety of sounds, including cries, growls and giggles. Each sound is accompanied by a different set of behaviors.

In general, Herpestidae families exhibit a wide range of social structures and behaviors. Some species thrive in solitude or in small groups, while others live in groups of up to 50 individuals. For example, the famous mongooses (of TV show fame) live in large cooperative bands with a distinct social hierarchy. Individuals are sometimes responsible for specialized tasks such as guard duties, hunting and child protection. The life and death of the group depends on the actions of each member.

A species' specific social arrangements may be related to its body size and animal type. The larger, more intimidating Egyptian mongoose is a solitary hunter, while the smaller pygmy mongoose is a more social animal that hides from predators by gathering in large groups. Alone, alone is vulnerable. But even the smaller animal can be difficult to kill when it's part of a wolf pack.

The mongoose's small size belies its rather bold personality. The creature is able to fend off dangerous predators that are much larger or more aggressive than it is. Being able to kill snakes (even venomous species!) is just one example. These animals can also sometimes evade or confuse deadly predators with incredible speed and agility. Some species can run at an average speed of 20 miles per hour.

These animals are most active during the day when they are hunting and socializing. They tend to sleep overnight in their dens. Meerkats can be very intelligent and playful, especially in social situations.

The mongoose is an Old World animal that thrives primarily in hot or tropical regions. The largest populations are found in sub-Saharan and eastern Africa and include most Mungotinae species and some Herpestinae species. They are also fairly common across large swaths of South Asia from China to the Middle East. Other common locations include southern Iberia, Indonesia, and Borneo.

These are mainly terrestrial mammals that roam the ground. They inhabit a variety of climates and habitats, including tropical forests, deserts, savannas, and grasslands. However, there are some notable exceptions. Some species, such as crab-eating mongooses, are semi-aquatic and spend most of their time in and near water. They are very good at swimming with nets between their fingers. Other species live in trees and move effortlessly from branch to branch. Terrestrial mongooses, on the other hand, use their large, non-retractable claws to burrow into the ground. They spend most of their time in the complex tunnel system they create.

These animals are opportunistic carnivores that will feed on a huge variety of different foods, both live and dead. These may include reptiles, small birds and mammals, amphibians, insects, worms and crabs. However, some species will supplement their diet with fruits, vegetables, roots, nuts and seeds. If the opportunity presents itself, then the animal will steal or feed on the prey of other creatures.

An intelligent animal, the mongoose has learned the ability to smash shells, nuts or eggs on rocks to crack them open. It can slam objects directly into hard surfaces or throw objects from a distance. This strategy is passed down from generation to generation, which may represent a transmissible form of culture.

However, the mongoose's diverse sense of taste can be a problem for other species, and they are already considered invasive in some areas.

Mongooses have only a few natural enemies in the wild, such as hawks and big cats. Larger mongooses can defend themselves against predators through sheer size, but smaller species are especially vulnerable to predation by large predators. The mongoose is also sometimes threatened by venomous snakes, but the mongoose wins out over this fearsome reptile due to its agility and speed. Its sheer adaptability allows it to thrive in many different geographic regions across Asia and Africa. However, some types of mongoose are currently in decline due to habitat loss due to human encroachment. They need plenty of space for burrows and social arrangements.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, human settlers introduced mongooses across the globe—particularly to several oceanic islands like Hawaii—to help control pests on plantations and farms. Although the meerkat rarely succeeds in this task, it does have unintended consequences, pushing much of the local wildlife—including many unique birds—to the brink of extinction. For this reason, mongooses are considered one of the world's top invasive species, and some efforts have been made to cull or limit mongoose populations in non-indigenous areas.

Reproduction in meerkats varies widely between species, as it often reflects their social structure. Solitary mongooses will only meet for breeding at regular intervals, usually once a year. One or both parents can raise the pups. Large colonies, on the other hand, often have one dominant member with near-exclusive reproductive rights to a few females—or sometimes just one pair of males—and the female is dominant.

Once mating is complete, the female will give birth a few months after conception. She can give birth to a litter of up to six pups at a time. Meerkat pups tend to grow relatively quickly. After weaning, pups will remain dependent on their parents for several months. It can take anywhere from six months to two years for a puppy to fully mature.

In more social mongoose species, pups are introduced to the colony at an early age. While foraging, several members will stay behind to protect the young. In some groups, puppies choose specific adult animals to provide regular food and care. Individuals may even develop lifelong bonds with family members and/or groups or other members of groups.

Lifespan largely depends on the species, but a typical mongoose can live around 10 years in the wild, and maybe twice that in captivity.

While precise population numbers are difficult to estimate, many mongoose species around the world appear to be healthy. The Indian gray mongoose is perhaps the most widely distributed species. It is common across a complete range throughout the Indian subcontinent and southern Iran.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, the Liberian mongoose is the only species that qualifies for Vulnerable status, while several other species are near threatened. However, the Madagascar mongoose, while not a true mongoose, is under threat in its native habitat, as several species are endangered. Some species will need to stop or reverse habitat loss to regain previous levels again.

about the author

Lisa Pace

After a career providing opportunities for local communities to experience and create art, I enjoy having time to write about two of my favorite things – nature and animals. I spend half my life outside, usually with my husband and adorable 14 year old puppy. We enjoyed walking around the lake and taking photos of the animals we encountered including: otters, osprey, Canada geese, ducks and nesting bald eagles. I also enjoy reading, discovering books to add to my library, collecting and playing vinyl records, and listening to my son's music.